The two tenders cover the civils package and electrical and mechanical work to increase capacity at the Sud Meliane II and Choutrana II plants by 40,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d) each. The additional capacity will go some way towards meeting the rising need for wastewater treatment that has accompanied the rapid population growth in the capital. A 100,000-cm/d shortfall is anticipated by 2006 if remedial measures are not taken.

The rise in demand, especially in the west of Tunis, was initially due to be met by the construction of a 'super plant' at Tunis West. However, plans to build the facility on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis have been temporarily shelved (MEED 13:10:00).