Algeria's government is set to enhance the treatment capacity of the El-Kerma wastewater treatment plant in Oran, a city located along the Mediterranean. The aim is to improve irrigation water supply to the Mleta plain, with an allocation of at least 2 billion Algerian dinars (approximately 14 million euros), as announced by Taha Derbal, the Algerian Minister of Hydraulics.

The redevelopment project for the El-Kerma wastewater treatment plant, disclosed on January 15, 2024, is anticipated to significantly benefit the Mleta agricultural perimeter. Minister Taha Derbal unveiled the earmarked funds of 2 billion Algerian dinars to cover various planned works at the El-Kerma plant.

The proposed enhancements include the renovation of 9 km of the plant's pumping pipe, constituting a substantial portion of the allocated 2 billion Algerian dinars. Additionally, part of the project involves equipping the El-Kerma plant, with a budget of 0.5 billion Algerian dinars.

The overall objective is to augment the current treatment capacity of the El-Kerma wastewater treatment plant, currently estimated at 90,000 m3 per day by the Société de l’eau et de l’assainissement d’Oran (SEOR). This represents one-third of the plant's installed capacity of 270,000 m3 per day.

The treatment process at El-Kerma involves pre-treatment phases, primary treatment through decanters, biological treatment via activated sludge process, and tertiary treatment involving chlorine disinfection, as detailed by SEOR.

Post-rehabilitation, the additional treated wastewater is intended for irrigation across the expansive 6,700 hectares of the Mleta plain. This agricultural area lies to the south of the Sebkha of Oran, the second-largest city in Algeria, boasting a population of around 936,000 in 2023. Oran is known for its fertile agricultural lands.