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Sonatrach has commenced construction of the El Marsa seawater desalination plant in Chlef, a key part of Algeria's national program aiming to meet 60% of drinking water needs by 2030. The project, initiated on December 14 under CEO Noureddine Daoudi, is part of a broader initiative approved by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to build three major desalination plants in Chlef, Mostaganem, and Tlemcen, each with a capacity of 300,000 m³ per day.

Spanning 12 hectares, the El Marsa facility will serve nearly three million people across several wilayas. Initial operations are expected to begin with a capacity of 150,000 m³/day after 22 months, eventually reaching full capacity.

The project emphasizes local workforce involvement and includes plans for technician training in desalination. Algeria currently operates 19 desalination plants, with a national production capacity of 3.7 million m³/day, contributing to a presidential goal of 5.6 to 5.8 million m³/day by 2030. Sonatrach is also pursuing a strategic shift towards low-carbon energy, including solar integration and green hydrogen projects.