Extensive Renovation and Modernization Program for SONEDE's Water Networks
A comprehensive program to renovate and modernize the water networks of the National Water Distribution Company (SONEDE) is currently being developed, covering the period 2026-2030, announced Abdelhamid Mnaja, CEO of SONEDE, on Monday in Tunis.
Urgent Intervention Required
"The aging of the system requires urgent intervention, which necessitates significant funding to renew the infrastructure and improve its efficiency," he emphasized during a conference organized by IACE on the theme "Network of Opportunities: Resilience & Water, the Keys to Tomorrow."
Aging Infrastructure
"In fact, 14,000 kilometers of pipes are over 50 years old, and more than half of the network is over 30 years old, while the current networks stretch over nearly 59,000 kilometers," he mentioned.
Renovation Program
According to the official, the renovation program includes a project to improve the technical and energy performance of the drinking water network in Greater Tunis, currently being prepared with the African Development Bank (BAD). He specified that the modernization of the Greater Tunis network will require 500 million dinars alone, with the launch scheduled for 2026. This project includes the installation of 130,000 smart meters, allowing for instant monitoring of pipes and the creation of a dedicated control room for monitoring consumption and real-time network management.
Upcoming Projects
A second project, scheduled for the end of 2026, will focus on improving the networks in the governorates of Sfax, Kébili, and Tozeur, with a water transfer system to Ben Guerdane. This project, costing 330 million dinars, will also involve the installation of 150,000 smart meters. A third project, currently in preparation, will target the seven governorates of the South, with an investment of nearly 230 million dinars. It aims to strengthen macro-metering to identify areas of high consumption, ensure better hydraulic balance between high and low areas, and improve the performance of a network that still has a low deficiency rate in the Southwest.
Desalination: A Necessary Measure
The CEO of SONEDE also emphasized that resorting to desalination remains "a necessary evil" to balance supply and demand, particularly during peak consumption periods. He recalled that Tunisia developed the desalination industry in the 1980s, through underground water desalination stations, with 15 stations currently in operation, located in Gabès, Gafsa, Ben Guerdane, Djerba, and Kerkennah. These stations have a total capacity of 110,000 cubic meters per day. Regarding seawater desalination, the official stated that the country also operates three stations producing 200,000 cubic meters per day.
