After Torrential Rains, Three Major Algerian Dams Reach Full Capacity: A Boost for National Water Reserves

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Brezina, Oued El Tlelat, and Kissir dams overflow as Algeria moves forward with new dam projects to meet future water demands amid growing climatic pressures

Algiers, Algeria | May 17th, 2025 — The National Agency for Dams and Transfers (ANBT) has announced a significant development in Algeria’s hydrological landscape: three of the country’s key dams—Brezina, Oued El Tlelat, and Kissir—have reached 100% capacity following a series of heavy rainfalls across several wilayas. This exceptional water inflow marks a crucial step in strengthening national water security amid growing environmental and agricultural demands.

The Brezina Dam, located in El Bayadh, reached its maximum threshold on Thursday at 9:20 p.m., prompting overflow through its upper spillway. The water flow at this critical point was recorded at 85 cubic meters per second, which necessitated urgent technical intervention. In response, bottom outlet valves were opened to 50% capacity, enabling the release of water at an average rate of 20 cubic meters per second, to mitigate pressure and prevent structural damage while managing sediment-laden inflows.

In Mascara, in western Algeria, the Oued El Tlelat Dam also filled to capacity between Thursday night and Friday morning. The water level exceeded the spillway by 15 centimeters, corresponding to a flow of 6.54 cubic meters per second. To manage this rise, authorities opened the bottom outlets to 25% on Friday at 8:30 a.m., resulting in an outgoing discharge of 30 cubic meters per second.

Similar conditions were reported in the eastern coastal wilaya of Jijel, where the Kissir Dam reached full capacity, leading to overflow at its upper spillway.

This exceptional level of dam replenishment is seen as a positive indicator of the country’s improving water reserves, particularly critical as Algeria enters the high-demand summer season. The increased storage will significantly bolster potable water supplies and agricultural irrigation, particularly in regions under mounting hydric stress.

Looking to the future, Algeria is preparing to expand its dam infrastructure. During a recent national meeting of sectoral officials, Minister of Water Resources, Taha Derbal, announced the initiation of feasibility studies for the construction of new dams, conditional upon financial viability. He noted the identification of 34 potential sites, each capable of storing up to one billion cubic meters of water. The overarching goal is to increase Algeria’s network to 95 major dams by 2030, with a combined capacity of 12 billion cubic meters, alongside 750 smaller dams and thresholds providing an additional 350 million cubic meters.

Meanwhile, Omar Bouguerra, the ministry’s secretary-general, underscored a remarkable improvement in western dam levels, which surged from 17.88% in 2023 to 43.76% in 2024. In the east, dam filling rates stood at 53.45%, compared to 60.12% last year, while central regions stabilized at 16.80%.

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