Approvisionnement en eau : l’usine de dessalement des Mamelles bientôt prête à livrer ses premiers litres
The Senegalese capital is poised to take a major step forward in securing its water supply. The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, accompanied by his colleagues Ibrahima Sy and Fatou Diouf, visited the various sites of the Mamelles Seawater Desalination Project on Thursday, March 12th. This strategic infrastructure project is expected to transform access to drinking water in Dakar for a lasting purpose. Following this joint visit, the authorities expressed their satisfaction with the progress of the work.
For the Minister of Water Resources, this project marks a decisive step in the water management policy in Senegal.
"This is the first Senegalese experience in seawater desalination. It is an innovative and courageous project that absolutely had to be completed," said Cheikh Tidiane Dièye.
According to him, the work is now between 90 and 98% complete, bringing the project closer to being commissioned. Once operational, the plant will produce 100,000 m³ of drinking water per day, divided into two 50,000 m³ batches, intended to bolster the supply to the Dakar region.
The minister also announced that the inauguration could take place in the coming months, once the final procedures are completed with the technical and financial partners, including Japan, the main funder of the project.
A hydraulic project, but also a social one
Beyond the production of drinking water, the project includes an important social support component for the populations of Ouakam, the area where the factory is located.
In this context, a fully rehabilitated health center has been built to improve healthcare services in this part of Dakar.
Health Minister Ibrahima Sy welcomed this initiative, which is part of the international approach known as "health in all policies".
"This health center will be a level 3 reference facility. We will install modern equipment and mobilize new medical staff to provide quality care to the population," he explained.
The infrastructure should be operational by June, after the installation of the medical equipment currently being shipped.
The center will offer several specialties including pediatrics, gynecology, surgery and dental care with an operating room and enhanced technical platform in order to reduce evacuations to major hospitals in Dakar.
Concrete support for the fishermen of Ouakam
Another major component of the project is support for the fishing community of Ouakam, which has been heavily impacted by the installation of the factory.
The Minister of Fisheries, Fatou Diouf, welcomed the measures put in place to support stakeholders in the fishing industry.
The achievements include an ice factory capable of producing 10 tonnes per day, as well as insulated tricycles for transporting and preserving fish.
These infrastructures aim to reduce post-capture losses, a recurring problem in artisanal fishing.
"These facilities will allow fishery products to be kept in better sanitary conditions and improve fishermen's incomes," the minister explained.
In parallel, a program to install artificial reefs is planned in order to promote the regeneration of fishery resources and the rebuilding of fish stocks.
An investment of over 137 billion CFA francs
The Mamelles desalination project represents a total investment of 137 billion CFA francs, financed largely by Japan with the support of the State of Senegal.
In addition, more than 700 million CFA francs have been injected into support measures for local communities in the health and fishing sectors.
Following this experience, Senegal is already planning to ramp up seawater desalination with a future project on the Grande Côte that could reach 400,000 m³ of water per day.
Dakar towards a new level of water security
With this factory, Dakar is equipping itself with a strategic tool to cope with demographic pressure and climate challenges.
For Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, the ambition is clear: to make Senegal a regional reference in water production by desalination.
"Until now, we would visit this type of infrastructure in other countries. Very soon, they will be the ones coming here to learn from our experience," he said.
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