The debate over a monumental project to transfer surplus water from Tunisia’s wetter north to its drought-stricken central interior has resurfaced, with a focus on supplying the critical region of Kairouan. The plan aims to alleviate severe water shortages and frequent cuts, driven by a deep drought and critically low groundwater levels.
The Scale of the Plan
According to public radio reports citing officials, the proposed system would span 400 kilometers, cross eight regions, and consist of four phases. The pivotal fourth phase, dedicated to Kairouan, would link the Nebhana and Sidi Saad dams over 84 kilometers. The overall master plan, supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, carries a price tag exceeding 2.5 billion dinars (approx. $850 million), funded by the Tunisian state, the German Development Bank (KfW), and the European Investment Bank. Tenders for the first phase are expected soon.
An Idea Born in the 1970s
“This idea isn’t new,” Houcine Rahili, a water resources expert, told media. Initial concepts date to the 1970s, parallel to the “Medjerda–Cap Bon Canal” project. That system moves northern surplus via an interconnected dam network, currently channeling water as far south as Sfax.
Rahili explained that part of this existing canal would be redirected to Kairouan, where aquifers are exploited at 140% of capacity and the region ranks third nationwide for recurrent drinking water cuts.
A System Under Strain
Rahili highlighted a stark reality: only 14 of Tunisia’s 24 regions rely on dam water for human consumption, including Greater Tunis and major coastal areas. However, national dam reserves are currently at just 25% capacity, a drastic drop from 100% a few years ago. “The priority is now drinking water, to the detriment of irrigation,” he said, warning that five years of persistent drought have fundamentally altered the water balance, leaving no sufficient surplus for agriculture.
Feasibility Hinges on Rain
Former ministry official Mohamed Salah Glaied underscored a key condition: transferring northern surpluses “is only possible when the dams are full.” He recalled years when excess water from the Sidi El Barrak dam in the northwest was discharged to the sea—once nearly 67 million cubic meters—prompting studies to pump it inland instead.
The transfer would occur in two stages, eventually reaching Kairouan via Bizerte and Manouba. Preliminary studies break the project into four parts, starting with the connection between the Sidi Saad and El Houareb dams, which is already underway.
A Lifeline for Kairouan
For Kairouan, suffering an acute irrigation deficit, interconnecting the Nebhana, El Houareb, and Sidi Saad dams is a strategic solution. Glaied said starting with the fourth phase aims to store at least 20 million cubic meters in winter for later distribution. The Nebhana dam could become a major 60-million-cubic-meter reservoir—if two successive rainy seasons materialize.
Costly Solutions and Alternative Sources
Glaied emphasized the extreme cost of such transfer projects, necessitating foreign loans as the state budget allocates little to development. This forces Tunisia to innovate and diversify.
“The state is moving toward diversifying sources through desalination plants,” he noted, citing the Japanese-funded Sfax plant, while still using cheaper surface water when available. He pointed to the success of the existing Medjerda–Cap Bon canal as a precedent.
Current Water Reserves
Recent public data shows a slight improvement: as of August 8, 2025, total dam reserves reached 777 million cubic meters (32% capacity), up from 599 million cubic meters (25%) on the same date in 2024. Yet, this remains insufficient, keeping the north-to-south transfer project a pressing, if complex, national priority.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Editorial Staff)
