Abunayyan Holding Affirms Interest in Expanding Industrial Presence in Algeria

Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines, Mohamed Arkab, met on Tuesday with the Chief Executive Officer of Abunayyan Holding, Turki bin Saeed Al-Amri, where they discussed opportunities for cooperation and investment in the field of seawater desalination and its related infrastructure within the framework of the National Seawater Desalination Program.

The discussions also addressed ways in which experienced companies can contribute to the implementation of the strategic projects launched by Algeria to strengthen its water security, in line with the distinguished relations that bind Algeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Algerian Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mines said in a statement.

On this occasion, Arkab presented an overview of the main outlines of the National Seawater Desalination Program, which is being implemented in accordance with the directives of the President of the Republic.

The program aims to construct new seawater desalination plants to cover approximately 62 percent of national drinking water needs, excluding groundwater resources, the statement said, adding that it focuses on ensuring water security and supplying densely populated areas as well as the High Plateaus, with a mandatory requirement to distribute desalinated water over distances of no less than 250 kilometers from the coastline.

In this context, reference was also made to the expertise of WETICO, a subsidiary of the Abunayyan Holding Group, which has previously contributed to the construction of several seawater desalination plants in Algeria, notably in Béjaïa, El Tarf, and Cap Djinet, reflecting the level of existing cooperation and the accumulated expertise in this vital sector, the source said.

For his part, the CEO of Abunayyan Holding affirmed the Group’s interest in strengthening its industrial presence in Algeria, expressing its willingness to localize the manufacturing of equipment and facilities used in seawater desalination, particularly the production of desalination plant membranes, in addition to other components and equipment related to the water production and desalination value chain, the statement added.

He also noted that Abunayyan Group’s activities extend to the field of oil and gas industry equipment and infrastructure, expressing the Group’s readiness to explore opportunities for technology transfer and the development of local industrial partnerships, in line with Algeria’s strategic orientation to increase national integration rates and strengthen the industrial fabric in these key sectors.