The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved €111.5 million in financing for the modernization of the Greater Tunis drinking water network and the improvement of its technical and energy performance.
This project will contribute to securing the drinking water supply, reducing losses due to leaks, and optimizing the energy consumption of the distribution system, according to a statement published on Tuesday on the AfDB’s official website.
In this context, the AfDB’s Deputy Director General for North Africa and Country Director, Malinne Blomberg, stated that this operation “will sustainably strengthen the performance of the Greater Tunis water network and improve the quality of services provided to citizens.”
She added that it will also “reduce water bills, improve the water infrastructure and strengthen the system’s resilience to climate change.
The project aims to equip the National Water Distribution Company (SONEDE) with modern technologies and equipment to reduce water losses, modernise storage and distribution infrastructure and strengthen the network’s resilience to climate change and population growth.
It includes the renewal of approximately 150 kilometers of pipelines, the upgrading of pumping and storage systems with more efficient and energy-saving devices, and the integration of digital solutions to optimize network management and enhance SONEDE’s technical capabilities.
In this regard, Tarek Bouhlel, Director General of African Cooperation
at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, emphasized that this operation represents a decisive step towards more equitable water distribution and improved energy efficiency, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The project in question is part of the ongoing cooperation between the AfDB and Tunisia to improve water management and modernize infrastructure in line with national priorities, according to the bank’s statement.
MK/ak/ac/fss/gik/APA