The Republic of Tunisia

EI-Kebir and EI-Maoula Dams

---

 

Loan No.:	391	Interest Rate:	4.5%
Beneficiary:	Ministry of Agriculture	Grace Period:	6 years
Project Cost:	KD 70.2 million	Maturity:	22 years
Amount of Loan:	KD 28.0 million	Repayment:	33 semi-annual installments
Date of Loan Agreement:	25/01/2000	First Installment:	6 years following the first disbursement
Date of Effectiveness:	24/04/2000

 

Objectives:

The project aims at the regulation of Cued EI-Kebir and Cued Bouterfas water resources to annually provide 51 million m3of water for municipal uses in Bizerte, Greater Tunis, the coastal area, Nabeul, Sfax, Sousse, Monastir and Mehdia. The project will contribute to improving the quality of water in the Mejerda canal and will ensure water security for the population of these areas.

Description:

The project is considered as part of the northern water master plan in Tunisia and consists of the construction of two dams and pumping stations in the governorate of Jendouba. The project also provides for the construction of a conveyor to transfer the water from these dams to Mejerda canal through Sidi EI-Barrak, Sejnane and Joumine dams. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2004 and consists of the following components:  

1. EI-Kebir dam: the project includes the construction of an earthfill dam, 75 m high and 500 m long, with a base width of 420 m and crest width of 8 m. The dam includes an intake tower, a bottom outlet, a concrete spillway and a diversion tunnel. The dam storage capacity is about 80 million m3, of which 35 million m3 will be regulated annually. The construction of the dam includes site preparation, civil works, hydromechanical works and the diversion of the main road between Tabarka and Ain Drahem. It also includes engineering services for construction supervision and land expropriation.

2.  EI-Maoula dam: The project includes the construction of a roller compacted concrete dam, 83 m high and 360 m long with a crest width of 8 m. The project also includes an 80 m long earthfill section. The dam includes a spillway, a bottom outlet, a water intake and the related grouting and drainage curtains. The dam will impound 35 million m3 of water and will regulate 16 million m3 annually. The construction of the dam includes engineering services for the construction supervision, preparatory works, civil works, hydromechanical equipments, construction management and land expropriation.

3.  Conveyor from the two dams and conveyor from Zarga dam to Sidi EI-Barrak dam: The conveyor consists of a reinforced concrete pipeline 35 km long with a diameter varying between 800 mm and 1,400 mm, two pumping stations of 4,000 kW and 1,500 kW capacity to pump 1,400 liters/sec. and 600 liters/sec. respectively.

4.  Conveyor from Sidi EI-Barrak dam to Sejnane dam: The conveyor consists of a reinforced concrete pipeline 1,800 mm in diameter and 17 km long. It also includes 4 additional pumping units with a capacity of 1.4 m3/sec to be installed in Sidi EI-Barrak pumping station.

5.  Conveyor from Sejnane dam to Joumine dam: The conveyor consists of a reinforced concrete pipeline 23 km long and 1,800 mm in diameter and the addition of seven pumping units in the existing Joumine dam pumping station.

6.  Conveyor from Joumine dam to Mejerda canal: The conveyor is 45 km long, 1,800 mm in diameter. The existing Joumine pumping station is to be expanded with seven additional pumping units.