Algeria’s Bechar and Béni-Ounif Flood Protection: Major Projects Announced to Safeguard Cities
✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | September 20th, 2024 — The Algerian Minister of Water Resources, Taha Derbal, revealed on Thursday a series of significant flood protection projects aimed at safeguarding the cities of Bechar and Béni-Ounif from recurrent flood risks. These projects, part of a broader national effort to enhance hydraulic infrastructure, represent a proactive step in addressing both immediate and long-term water management challenges in the region.
During a visit to the border commune of Béni-Ounif, located 110 km north of Bechar, the minister inspected the aftermath of recent floods caused by the “Melias” and “Sidi Aissa” rivers, which traverse the area. Among the initiatives, Derbal announced the construction of protective embankments along an 8-km stretch of these rivers, at a cost exceeding 1 billion DA. This project is a crucial measure to shield the city from future flood risks, reflecting the government’s commitment to bolstering local infrastructure.
In Bechar itself, additional projects were outlined, including a significant flood protection system designed to mitigate the effects of flash floods from the Oued Bechar. A dam is also planned on the Oued Labiad, which will not only reduce the strength of floodwaters but also mobilize surface water resources for agriculture and potable water supply, ensuring a sustainable water supply for the region.
During his visit, the minister also inspected the construction progress of three pumping stations, part of a broader initiative to capture water from the Albian aquifers in Guetrani. While underscoring the urgency of completing these flood protection projects, Derbal emphasized that this should not slow the ongoing water transfer project from Guetrani to Bechar. The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, will provide an essential supply of potable water to the cities of Bechar, Kenadza, and Abadla.
Messaoud Maatar, Director General of the National Agency for Dams and Water Transfers (ANBT), provided an update on the Guetrani project, noting that 18 of the planned 26 boreholes have already been completed and equipped, with a production capacity of 68,000 m³. The remaining boreholes are expected to be operational by October, allowing for the first water transfer tests by mid-November and full commissioning of the project by the end of 2024, with a daily water production of 80,000 m³.
At the Djorf-Torba Dam, Minister Derbal expressed satisfaction with the dam’s current water level, which has risen to 247 million m³ following torrential rains and resulting floods. The Oued Guir, one of the main contributors to this exceptional water influx, has prompted the opening of five of the dam’s six gates, with additional water being released through the spillways. These discharges will not only replenish the region’s groundwater reserves but also flow southward to Igli, where they will merge with the Oued Zouzfana to form the Oued Saoura. Remarkably, this year’s floodwaters have reached the town of Reggane, more than 800 km south of Bechar.
The minister stressed the need for a comprehensive program to meet the irrigation needs of farmers in the Abadla plain, a fertile area spanning 5,400 hectares, which plays a key role in the region’s agricultural development.
Concluding his visit, Minister Derbal inspected the Fayja River in northern Bechar, the Oued Bechar bridge at Jniane Diffallah, and the sewage lifting station in Bechar, which had suffered damage during recent floods. He assured local authorities that the state and the Ministry of Water Resources will provide the necessary support and assistance to repair the damaged hydraulic infrastructure, with a particular focus on the urgent flood protection projects for Bechar and Béni-Ounif.
This comprehensive hydraulic infrastructure plan represents a strategic effort to not only mitigate the effects of natural disasters but also to enhance water security and agricultural productivity in a region that is vital to Algeria’s broader development goals.
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