For many years adequate water supplies in Algiers were nearly unattainable, as residential and industrial demand has significantly outstripped supply. More than 2.5 million rural dwellers have resettled in the City of Algiers over the past half-century, inflating the population and severely straining the city’s water supplies and infrastructure. As a result, residents faced serious water shortages, and often received water for only a few hours each day or sometimes only once every three days.

“We are proud to be a partner in the Hamma Seawater Desalination Plant -- it is a great example of how private and public partnerships can help solve urgent water needs," said Jeff Garwood president and CEO, GE Water & Process Technologies. "Partnerships like this one, with the Algerian Government and AEC, combined with our global scale, financing capabilities, and broad portfolio of equipment, chemicals and services put GE in a unique position to provide solutions for the world's growing water challenges. Our momentum continues to build and in 2008 we expect to grow GE's large structured projects, like Hamma, by 80 percent. We are excited about our prospects in the coming year and we look forward to delivering affordable, on-time and on-budget water treatment solutions to customers around the globe."

Hamma Seawater Desalination Plant (SWDP) is also North Africa’s first large-scale reverse osmosis desalination plant to be funded by a joint venture that combines public and private equity investment. The special project company, Hamma Water Desalination SpA combines 70 percent funding from General Electric and 30 percent from the state-owned Algerian Energy Company. The Overseas Private Investment Company, which helps U.S. businesses invest in new and emerging overseas markets, financed U.S. $200 million towards the project. GE was also awarded a 25-year contract to operate and maintain the plant.