Sud‑Milienne Waste‑Water Treatment Plant (Radès) – €40 Million Rehabilitation & Expansion Project
Part of the Dépoll Med programme, financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union (EU), in partnership with Tunisia’s National Sanitation Office (ONAS).
Project Overview
The Sud‑Milienne wastewater treatment plant, located in the coastal city of Radès (south of Tunis), is undergoing a €40 million overhaul. The plant, originally commissioned in the 1980s, will be modernised and expanded to meet the growing demand for high‑quality effluent treatment in a densely‑populated urban zone that also hosts intensive industrial activities.
“This modernisation will directly improve the quality of life for residents of Greater Tunis while protecting the coastline and promoting the reuse of non‑conventional water for agriculture,” said the French Embassy in Tunisia in a video released alongside the announcement.
Three Core Objectives
| # | Objective | Expected Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cut pollutant discharges into receiving water bodies and raise the quality of treated water. | • Enhanced biodiversity in rivers and coastal zones. • Better public health outcomes for nearby communities. |
| 2 | Strengthen climate‑resilience by boosting the volume of treated water earmarked for agricultural irrigation. | • Reduces pressure on dwindling conventional water resources. • Supports sustainable farming in a climate‑stressed region. |
| 3 | Integrate a sludge‑digestion unit that produces methane‑rich biogas for cogeneration. | • Generates renewable energy to power part of the plant’s operations. • Lowers the station’s carbon footprint and operating costs. |
Environmental & Socio‑Economic Impact
- Biodiversity: Cleaner effluents will help restore aquatic habitats along the Tunisian littoral.
- Public Health: Reduced exposure to hazardous contaminants translates into fewer water‑borne diseases.
- Water Reuse: Treated water will be diverted to irrigate farms, contributing to food security and reducing reliance on groundwater.
- Renewable Energy: The biogas‑driven cogeneration system will offset a significant share of the plant’s electricity demand, aligning with Tunisia’s renewable‑energy targets.
Partnership Highlights
- AFD, EIB & EU Funding: Demonstrates strong European commitment to Tunisia’s water‑sector transformation.
- ONAS Collaboration: The joint effort represents a cumulative €425 million investment across roughly ten sanitation projects in Tunisia, with four currently under implementation.
- Strategic Importance: The partnership is deemed structuring for the national water and environment agenda, paving the way for further large‑scale infrastructure upgrades.
Watch the Official Announcement
Below is the video released by the French Embassy in Tunisia, summarising the project’s goals and expected benefits.
Video length: 3 minutes 03 seconds.
SEO Keywords
- Sud‑Milienne wastewater treatment plant
- Radès water infrastructure
- Depoll Med Tunisia
- AFD water projects
- ONAS sanitation partnership
- Biogas cogeneration Tunisia
- Climate‑resilient water reuse
- Tunisian coastal water quality
For further information, please contact the French Embassy in Tunisia or the National Sanitation Office (ONAS).
