Water resources: Fair distribution projects revived in 2012

Algeria managed to win the battle of water resources mobilization after a decade of tremendous achievements. In 2012, the country embarked on the challenge of ensuring an equitable distribution of this steadily dwindling resource. Indeed, the new program of large public investments for the period 2010-2014, amounted to $ 20 billion, comes in continuation of the effort to re-balancing water availability in the different regions. In the long run, Algeria relies on the transfer between the different regions of 600 million m3 per year of water, equivalent to the total capacity of six large dams, according to experts. This program which is currently under preparation, includes the construction of several mobilization facilities, water supply and sanitation and irrigation, intended to ensure a more balanced distribution among regions and users but also equity in the allocation of services, which will allow Algeria to be closer to the Millennium development Goals (MDGs) in terms of access to drinking water and sanitation. The implementation of this device will further consolidate the achievements of a national strategy of water development by Algeria during the period 2000-2008, under the sign of ensuring water needs for domestic, industrial and agriculture activities. New minister responsible for the sector, Hocine Necib, named in 2012, upholds his approach, announcing the forthcoming implementation of a new strategy to address the concern for water fair distribution in Algeria.