AFESD Activities أنشطة الصندوق العربي للتنمية المستدامة

Objectives:

The project aims at achieving the sustainable and safe use of the Chtouka underground water basin, preventing its depletion, preserving the irrigation facilities and agricultural equipment in the Chtouka Aït Baha region, and increasing the production of vegetables with high value added, through the desalination and distribution of sea water. The project will contribute to the development of agricultural exports, the protection of the environment, and the provision of new employment opportunities.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2019, includes the construction of a water desalination plant on the Atlantic Ocean, and a conveyance and distribution network of the desalinated water to the green houses in the Chtouka Aït Baha region. The project consists of the construction of a desalination plant, reservoirs, pumping stations, and the laying of pipelines, in addition to the supply of the desalination plant and pumping stations with electricity. The project also includes provision of the necessary technical services to prepare the studies and designs, assistance with tender documents and bid analysis, and construction supervision, as well as institutional support to the beneficiary and implementing agencies. The project consists of the following main components:

1. 1. Desalination Plant: This includes the construction of a desalination plant with a daily capacity of about 110 thousand m3. The plant includes two water intakes, two pipelines with a length of about 1,500 m and a diameter of about 1,600 mm each, a storage reservoir, and a pumping station with a capacity of about 1.6 m3 per second and a head of 125 m. It also includes all equipment for the reverse osmosis desalination plant, a reservoir for the desalinated water with a capacity of about 25 thousand m3, and a pipeline for the disposal of the brines into the sea with a length of about 3,600 m and a diameter of about 1,800 mm.
   2. Facilities for the Transport and Distribution of Irrigation Water: This includes the construction of three stations to pump the desalinated water, with capacities ranging between about 1.0 and 2.4 m3 per second and a head ranging between about 112 and 125 m, and the laying of pipelines to transport and distribute the desalinated water, with a total length of about 305 km and diameters ranging between 160 and 1,100 mm. Desalination Plant and Facilities for the Transport and Distribution of Irrigation Water:
2. Supply of Electricity: This includes the construction of 60 kV electric transmission lines with a total length of about 107 km, to supply the desalination plant and the pumping stations with electricity.
3. Technical Services: These include the provision of consultancy services for preparation of the project studies and assistance with tender documents and bid analysis, the construction supervision, as well as the preparation of any studies required to achieve the objectives of the project.
4. Institutional Support: This includes the acquisition of some necessary equipment to manage the project implementation, the training of employees of the beneficiary and implementing agencies, as well as the provision of guidance and awareness services to the farmers for their contribution to the financing of the project and the achievement of its objectives.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 58% of the total project cost. It is expected that the farmers and a qualified private sector partner, who will construct and operate the project facilities, will contribute to the financing of the project for a total amount of about KD 9.6 million (about 11%). The Moroccan Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.