2016 OPIC Impact Award Goes to a Water Plant in Algeria

Before 2008, water scarcity in Algiers was caused by high demand, drought and an aging distribution system which left the city rationing water - residents were receiving water supply once every 3 days. The 2016 Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) Impact Award winner, Hamma Water Desalination SpA, with 70% funding from GE and 30% from the Algerian Energy Company, built the 200,000 m3/day Hamma Seawater Desalination Plant (SWDP) to turn seawater into freshwater. The plant is Africa's first reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant to be funded by public and private investment. Today, the plant meets 25% of Algeria's freshwater needs. The OPIC Impact Award in the critical infrastructure category recognizes projects that demonstrate innovation in overcoming challenges in emerging markets. Read more. More about GE in Africa in this BRIEFING.