A desalination plant under construction by France’s Sidem in Derna in the northeast of Libya started producing its first supplies of water in mid September.

Another plant at Soussa, also in the northeast, came on line in August.

The plants, which can each produce 8.8 million gallons a day (g/d) of desalinated water are due to begin commercial water production in October.

The French firm is also working on a separate 17.6 million g/d project at Zawia in the northwest. Sidem expects the Zawia plant to produce its first water before the end of the year.

Sidem is due to complete a fourth scheme at Zwara, also in the northwest, in June 2010. The plant will have a capacity of 8.8 million g/d.