African Development Bank Group Approves €111.5 Million Financing for Modernization of Grand Tunis Water Supply Network
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a financing package of €111.5 million to modernize the water supply network of Grand Tunis and improve its technical and energy performance. This project will contribute to securing the supply of drinking water, reducing losses due to leaks, and optimizing the energy consumption of the distribution system, according to a statement published on the AfDB's official website on Tuesday. In this context, the AfDB's Deputy Director General for North Africa and Country Director, Malinne Blomberg, stated that this operation will "durablely strengthen the performance of the Grand Tunis water network and improve the quality of services provided to citizens." It will also "reduce the water consumption bill, improve hydraulic infrastructure, and consolidate the resilience of the system to climate variations," she added. The project aims to equip the National Water Exploitation and Distribution Company (SONEDE) with modern technologies and equipment to reduce water losses, modernize storage and distribution infrastructure, and strengthen the network's resilience to climate change and demographic pressure. It includes the renewal of approximately 150 kilometers of pipes, the upgrading of pumping and storage systems with more efficient and energy-saving devices, as well as the integration of digital solutions to optimize network management and strengthen SONEDE's technical capacities. In this regard, the Director General of African Cooperation at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, Tarek Bouhlel, emphasized that this operation constitutes a decisive step towards a more equitable distribution of water and better energy efficiency, supported by the AfDB's assistance. The project is part of the AfDB's ongoing cooperation with Tunisia to improve water management and modernize infrastructure, in line with national priorities, according to the bank's statement.
