The progress rate of the interconnection project for the Oued El-Makhazine and Dar Khrofa dams reached 96% on 29 January, while the commissioning of this project is scheduled for February, affirmed the Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with Parliament, Government Spokesperson, Mustapha Baitas, on Thursday in Rabat.
Tests to ensure the safety of the pipelines against leaks are currently underway on approximately 11 remaining kilometres and the filling of the pipelines will start immediately after the completion of these tests, specified Mr. Baitas in response to journalists' questions during a press briefing following the Government Council.
The Minister stressed that this project is part of the National Programme for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2020-2027, implemented in accordance with the High Royal Directives. It concerns the second phase of the link between the two hydraulic hubs of Loukkos and Tangier, aiming to transfer water surpluses to the concerned areas.
This follows the commissioning, in 2021, of the first phase carried out between the Dar Khrofa dam and the El Hachef water treatment plant, allowing for the transfer of a total annual volume estimated at 75 million cubic metres according to the capacity of the pipelines, noted Mr. Baitas.
The objective of the project is to transfer 100 million cubic metres of water from the Oued El Makhazine dam to the Dar Khrofa dam to guarantee the drinking water supply of the Tangier hub and reduce the loss of water surpluses downstream of the Oued El Makhazine dam during rainy periods, he continued, specifying that the total cost of the project amounts to 820 million dirhams.
Regarding the interconnection project between the Sebou, Bouregreg, and Oum Er Rbia basins, Mr. Baitas noted that "the government has succeeded in supplying Rabat with drinking water within the scheduled deadlines".
He added that this project generally aims to transfer a surplus of nearly 1,200 cubic metres to strengthen the drinking water supply of the Marrakech, Rabat, and Casablanca regions, the irrigated perimeters of Doukkala, Beni Amir, and Beni Moussa, while preserving the Berrechid water table intended to meet agricultural needs.
He specified that, in the current context marked by the scarcity of resources and within the framework of the PNAEPI, an urgent first phase connecting Rabat and Sebou has been completed, noting that the following stages aim to increase the transfer flow of the Sebou and Bouregreg basins to 45 cubic metres per second, thus bringing the quantity of water transferred between these basins to 800 million cubic metres per year.
Furthermore, the Bouregreg hydraulic basin will be connected to the Al Massira dam with a flow of 30 cubic metres per second, over a length of 109 kilometres, noted the Minister, indicating that the studies concerning this section should be finalised by next March.
In addition, a third phase plans to connect the Oued Laou and Loukkos basins to that of the Sebou, with a flow of 20 to 30 cubic metres per second, he added.
On the other hand, Mr. Baitas indicated that seawater desalination works are progressing rapidly, noting that the production of desalinated water has increased from 192 to 277 million cubic metres, an increase of 44%, affirming that the government is deploying significant efforts and allocating the necessary financial means to guarantee the supply of drinking water and irrigation throughout the Kingdom.
Tests to ensure the safety of the pipelines against leaks are currently underway on approximately 11 remaining kilometres and the filling of the pipelines will start immediately after the completion of these tests, specified Mr. Baitas in response to journalists' questions during a press briefing following the Government Council.
The Minister stressed that this project is part of the National Programme for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI) 2020-2027, implemented in accordance with the High Royal Directives. It concerns the second phase of the link between the two hydraulic hubs of Loukkos and Tangier, aiming to transfer water surpluses to the concerned areas.
This follows the commissioning, in 2021, of the first phase carried out between the Dar Khrofa dam and the El Hachef water treatment plant, allowing for the transfer of a total annual volume estimated at 75 million cubic metres according to the capacity of the pipelines, noted Mr. Baitas.
The objective of the project is to transfer 100 million cubic metres of water from the Oued El Makhazine dam to the Dar Khrofa dam to guarantee the drinking water supply of the Tangier hub and reduce the loss of water surpluses downstream of the Oued El Makhazine dam during rainy periods, he continued, specifying that the total cost of the project amounts to 820 million dirhams.
Regarding the interconnection project between the Sebou, Bouregreg, and Oum Er Rbia basins, Mr. Baitas noted that "the government has succeeded in supplying Rabat with drinking water within the scheduled deadlines".
He added that this project generally aims to transfer a surplus of nearly 1,200 cubic metres to strengthen the drinking water supply of the Marrakech, Rabat, and Casablanca regions, the irrigated perimeters of Doukkala, Beni Amir, and Beni Moussa, while preserving the Berrechid water table intended to meet agricultural needs.
He specified that, in the current context marked by the scarcity of resources and within the framework of the PNAEPI, an urgent first phase connecting Rabat and Sebou has been completed, noting that the following stages aim to increase the transfer flow of the Sebou and Bouregreg basins to 45 cubic metres per second, thus bringing the quantity of water transferred between these basins to 800 million cubic metres per year.
Furthermore, the Bouregreg hydraulic basin will be connected to the Al Massira dam with a flow of 30 cubic metres per second, over a length of 109 kilometres, noted the Minister, indicating that the studies concerning this section should be finalised by next March.
In addition, a third phase plans to connect the Oued Laou and Loukkos basins to that of the Sebou, with a flow of 20 to 30 cubic metres per second, he added.
On the other hand, Mr. Baitas indicated that seawater desalination works are progressing rapidly, noting that the production of desalinated water has increased from 192 to 277 million cubic metres, an increase of 44%, affirming that the government is deploying significant efforts and allocating the necessary financial means to guarantee the supply of drinking water and irrigation throughout the Kingdom.
