The National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and German bank KfW signed, on Monday, agreements to finance drinking water supply worth 69.5 million euros. This funding concerns the Sidi Ifni drinking water supply project (AEP) and its coastal zone through the desalination of sea water and Tlat Lakhssas and the surrounding rural area from the Youssef ben Tachfine dam, said a statement from ONEE. The project, totaling 30 million euros, will support the socio-economic development of the cities and villages concerned while ensuring an integrated management of water resources. The use of seawater desalination was resorted to due to the limitation of conventional water resources. They also concluded an agreement on the drinking water supply program for small and medium-sized centers (component 1-AEP of five centers), amounting to 27 million euros. It consists of carrying out measures to extend five existing water supply systems, notably via increasing drinking water production, pumping and transportation to cover the future needs of Kelaa des Sraghnas, Sale, Sidi Bettache, Berkane and Taounate, the statement said. The two parties also signed an agreement on the peri-urban drinking water supply program for ONEE centers amounting to 12.5 million euros. The program targets approximately 460 potential neighborhoods that will be connected to drinking water systems.
