Republic of Tunisia

Construction of Saida and Kalaa Kebira Dams, and Related Water Conveyance Facilities
Loan No: 631 Interest Rate: 3.0 %
Beneficiary: Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries Grace Period: 6 years
Project Cost: KD 74.4 million Maturity: 22 years
Amount of Loan: KD 50.0 million Repayment: 33 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: 2016-01-26 First Installment: 6 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2016-01-26 Date of Loan Effectiveness: 2016-09-20

Objectives:

The project aims at covering the expected deficit in drinking water of Grand Tunis (Tunis, Ariana, Ben Arous and Manouba Provinces), the Sahel (Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia Provinces) and the Cap Bon (Nabeul Province) regions, and meeting their need for water up to the year 2030. The project also aims at reducing the existing deficit in drinking water in Sfax province, through the storage of part of the water from the upper northern region of the country in the Saida and Kalaa Kebira dams, and its conveyance to the water treatment plants. The project will contribute to the provision of additional amounts of water for irrigation purposes in the Cap Bon, secure a drinking water reserve for the regions benefiting from the project, and also contribute to the reduction of the salinity of the water that is distributed and to the reduction in the depletion of groundwater resources currently used.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, includes the construction of Saida and Kalaa Kebira dams, pumping stations, pipeline conveyors to store water in the two dams and transport it to the treatment plants, the technical services required to review and complete the studies, and prepare the design and execution drawings, as well as construction supervision. The project consists of the following major components:

  1. Construction of Saida and Kalaa Kebira Dams: This includes the construction of Saida dam in Manouba Province and Kalaa Kebira dam in Sousse Province, and consists of the following:
    1. Saida Dam:This includes the construction of a fill dam to form a tank with a storage capacity of 45 million m3at normal water level. The dam is about 49 m high above the wadi bed, and 1100 m long, with a crest width of about 8 m. The dam is supplemented in the right bank of the wadi by a dike about 250 m long and 10 m high, and in the left bank of the wadi by a dike about 550 m long and 16 m high. The dam also includes the construction of a concrete tower for the water intakes and bottom outlet.
    2. Kalaa Kebira Dam: This includes the construction of a fill dam to form a tank with a storage capacity of 33 million m3at normal water level. The dam is about 33 m high above the wadi bed, and 2250 m long, with a crest width of about 7 m. The dam also includes the construction of a concrete tower for the water intakes and bottom outlet.
  2. Water Conveyance Facilities Related to the Dams: This includes the construction and equipping of 3 pumping stations with capacity ranging between about 2 and 5 m3per second, under a rated head ranging between about 65 and 110 m, and the works to supply the stations with electricity, as well as the provision of monitoring and operating equipment. It also includes the laying of about 47 km of pipes with diameters ranging between about 1400 and 1800 mm, and the construction of a balancing tank with a capacity of about 5000 m3.
  3. Water Conveyance Facilities from Saida Dam to Beli Tank:This includes the construction and equipping of 2 pumping stations with capacity of about 4.6 m3per second each, under a rated head of about 81 m for the first and 128 m for the second, and the works to supply the stations with electricity, as well as the provision of monitoring and operating equipment. It also includes the laying of about 72 km of pipes with diameters ranging between about 1600 and 1800 mm, and the construction of two balancing tanks with a capacity of about 10000 m3each.
  4. Technical Services: This includes the consultancy services required for review and completion of the studies, and preparation of the design and execution drawings, and construction supervision, as well as the services of international experts to review the studies and design of the dams, and provide technical advice during their implementation.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 67% of the total project cost. The Tunisian Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.