Morocco’s Office National de l’Electricite et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE) has tendered contracts to expand a water treatment plant (WTP) in Ben Guerir.

The work is split into three packages, the first of which involves technical studies.

The second includes the construction of a 100 litre-a-second (l/s) (8,640 cubic metres a day) extension to the WTP and associated works.

The final package involves the installation of an additional electro pump group at one 125 l/s pumping station and the retrofitting of a second 300 l/s pumping station.

The deadline for proposals is 22 April 2015.

The existing plant, neighbouring the Al-Massira dam, has a capacity of 200 l/s. It was completed in 2010 at a cost of MD620m ($63m).

The project is being financed by €65m ($70.5) loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, signed on 29 January 2015.

The Ben Guerir-Skhour Rhamna scheme is intended to help ensure access to drinking water for more than 480,000 people in Azilal, Ben Guerir and Ouarzazate, as well as in 260 rural communities. It also involves 12 reservoirs, pumping stations and 470 kilometres of pipeline.

A project management consultancy contract was tendered in mid-2014.

ONEE reached 92 per cent access to drinking water in rural areas in 2012, up from 60 per cent in 2004. It is also improving water access in Chefchaouen and Agadir and Chtouka Ait Baha.