Core Insights - The Algerian government has invested $2.4 billion to build five desalination plants, increasing the share of desalinated water in the total water supply from 18% to 42% [1] - The government plans to construct six additional desalination plants by 2030 to alleviate water scarcity and improve the quality of life for citizens [1] - Algeria faces severe water shortages due to frequent droughts, making desalination a critical solution [1] Company Involvement - The Oran desalination project, with a capacity of 300,000 tons, is the first large-scale desalination facility built by a Chinese company in Algeria, showcasing China's engineering capabilities [1][2] - The project utilizes advanced reverse osmosis membrane technology for effective salt and impurity removal, producing high-quality freshwater [2] - The project is expected to benefit over 2 million people and provide a stable water source for agricultural development [2] Local Impact - Chinese companies are actively involved in local talent development, with Algerian employees gaining advanced technical and management skills during the project [2] - The Algerian government has established 23 desalination plants with a total daily capacity of 1.5 million tons, with ongoing projects to further enhance water supply [2] - Algeria aims to recycle 60% of wastewater for agricultural irrigation by 2030, with significant room for improvement in wastewater treatment efficiency [2] Broader Implications - The involvement of Chinese enterprises in Algeria's desalination projects is seen as a significant contribution to addressing water scarcity, promoting local employment, and supporting sustainable development [3]

Core Insights - The desalination industry in China is experiencing significant growth, with a total of 156 desalination projects in operation by the end of 2023, achieving a processing capacity of 2.523 million tons per day, representing a year-on-year increase of 7% [1][4][8] Industry Overview - Desalination is a technology that converts seawater into freshwater, providing a stable water supply for coastal residents and industries, unaffected by time and climate [1] - The cost of desalination has been decreasing due to advancements in technology, with energy consumption for processing one cubic meter of seawater dropping from 5 kWh to less than 3 kWh over the past 20 years [1] Project Scale and Distribution - Among the existing desalination projects, those with a capacity of 1 million tons per day or more account for 230,000 tons per day, which is 92% of the total capacity [2] - The top three provinces in terms of desalination capacity are Zhejiang (800,000 tons/day), Shandong (710,000 tons/day), and Hebei (390,000 tons/day) [4][6] Regional Concentration - Zhejiang, Shandong, and Hebei together account for 75% of the total desalination capacity in China, highlighting a significant regional concentration in the industry [6] Growth Trends - In 2023, five provinces saw growth in desalination capacity, with Fujian leading at a 26% increase, followed by Shandong at 18%, and Guangdong at 10% [9] Technology Utilization - The predominant technology used in desalination projects includes reverse osmosis, which accounts for approximately 66% of the total capacity, while low-temperature multi-effect and multi-stage flash technologies account for about 32% and 0.2%, respectively [11]