These two stations, the inauguration of which took place in the presence of the governor of the province, Adil El Maliki, the secretary general of the province, Driss Alahla, heads of external services, local elected officials and representatives of local authorities and security, were carried out by the Ministry of the Interior at an estimated cost of 22 million dirhams (MDH)
With a capacity of 15 liters per second, these important infrastructures are part of a structuring project which provides for the acquisition, installation and operation of five monoblock purification, desalination and demineralization stations at the level of the province of Essaouira in five different sites, namely Sidi Battach (commune of Sidi Ishak), Moulay Bouzerktoun (two stations), Bhibah (municipality of Akermoud) and in the municipality of Tafedna.
In a statement to MAP on this occasion, Mohammed Meziani, general director of the Autonomous Intercommunal Water and Electricity Distribution Board of Safi (RADEES), delegated project owner of the project, indicated that the inauguration of These two stations are part of an urgent priority and strategic program, implemented at national level by the Ministry of the Interior, in accordance with the High Royal Instructions to deal with water stress.
“This ambitious program, with a total investment of 4 billion dirhams, involves the installation of 26 water desalination stations, including 16 with a capacity of 10 liters per second and 10 with a capacity of 5 liters per second, as well as 15 demineralization stations, including 8 stations of 10 liters per second and 7 stations of 5 liters per second”, he said, specifying that the province of Essaouira benefited from a significant part of this project, estimated at 20% with a total investment of around 60 MDH.
In this vein, Mr. Meziani welcomed these crucial infrastructures, which “have borne fruit and made it possible to strengthen the supply of drinking water to rural communities in the province, particularly during this period of drought”.
For her part, Fouzia Taoumi, general director of Schiele Maroc, the company responsible for carrying out the project, indicated that this initiative is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to strengthen, modernize and improve hydraulic infrastructure to the effect to guarantee equitable access to this vital resource for all regions.
“This new infrastructure, completed in eight months, is in addition to a new project aimed at establishing other stations in the province, which will be interconnected by an electricity and water distribution network to optimize their efficiency” , she added.
Furthermore, Ms. Taoumi did not fail to affirm that these new stations will also support the agricultural and tourist development of this part of the national territory by providing a reliable and quality water resource.