Author Archives: Hassiba Bouabdesselam

About Hassiba Bouabdesselam

Hassiba Bouabdesselam is a Professor and Research Project Leader in sustainable water management and circular economy. She coordinates the Algerian Centre of Excellence in Water Desalination, a collaborative platform bringing together four university institutions. Her expertise lies in water desalination and sustainable water technologies, supported by a strong academic background and numerous scientific publications. Her research addresses emerging materials for desalination, energy-efficient water and wastewater treatment processes, and the integration of artificial intelligence for energy optimization, with a particular focus on water security and environmental sustainability in the MENA region.

Water Security and Transboundary Conflicts: Geopolitical Challenges and Sustainable Water Governance

By | | ,
1 Comment

Water security has become a central determinant of geopolitical stability and sustainable development, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Increasing water demand, combined with climate change and fragmented governance of shared water resources, is intensifying tensions between states. This article analyzes transboundary water conflicts through several emblematic cases and highlights the critical role of cooperative governance, with a particular focus on the North Western Sahara Aquifer System (NWSAS). This study emphasizes that scientific transparency, institutional coordination, and regional cooperation are key to preventing water-related conflicts and ensuring long-term water security. Water as a Strategic Security Issue Water is no longer … Continue reading →

Green Hydrogen: Global Dynamics, MENA Perspectives and Algeria’s Decarbonization Strategy

By | | , ,
Leave a comment

Global energy systems are undergoing a structural transformation driven by the urgency of climate change mitigation, long-term sustainability concerns, and the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The Paris Agreement and subsequent national commitments to carbon neutrality by mid-century have reinforced the necessity of deep and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy. Although renewable electricity generation—particularly solar photovoltaics and wind power—has expanded significantly over the past decade, the electrification of final energy demand faces intrinsic limitations in sectors characterized by high-temperature industrial processes, energy-dense fuels, and long-duration storage requirements [1]. Green hydrogen has … Continue reading →

Desalination as an Integrated Water–Energy–Material System in Water-Stressed Regions

By | | ,
Leave a comment

Water scarcity has become a structural constraint for sustainable development in arid and semi-arid regions. In North Africa, declining renewable water availability, recurrent droughts, population growth and agricultural demand have pushed conventional water resources beyond their renewal capacity. As a result, seawater desalination has evolved from an emergency response to a strategic infrastructure for national water security. However, the rapid expansion of desalination systems has revealed systemic challenges extending beyond water production. Energy consumption, membrane fouling, chemical use, brine discharge and environmental impacts increasingly determine the sustainability and social acceptability of desalination. At the same time, desalination brine—traditionally considered a … Continue reading →