The government expects to ensure an investment of US $2 billion by 2027, for projects to capture, store and distribute water to the country’s capital, Luanda, announced last week the Minister of Energy and Water, João Baptista Borges.
The official said that the forecast is to build more than one million home connections to serve the city’s areas, with emphasis on the South and North, as well as Zango and areas where people still do not have home connections.
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The Bita and Quilonga projects are the two major plans that will compensate for the water supply deficit that the country’s capital is currently facing, according to João Baptista Borges, who was speaking to the press, on the sidelines of the National Water and Sanitation Forum (FONAS).
Statistically, the official said that if Luanda has 10 million inhabitants, at least six million buy water from cisterns, but the intention is to eliminate this system, building the Quilonga and Bita projects – the first with 500 thousand cubic meters of water/day for 5 million inhabitants and the second with 250 thousand cubic meters/day to 2.5 million. “This is going to be the big investment to make”, he concluded.
“Fortunately, the Bita project has just started its development and construction. We foresee that by 2026 it may already be operational, and the Quilonga project a little later”, he said.
He declared that Luanda will be the government’s priority in terms of water supply, but highlighted, on the other hand, that there are other projects that are currently in the final concluding stage in other provincial capitals such as Malanje and Cabinda, the latter having already benefited from an ongoing project.
“There is still a need to extend to most of the provincial capitals of the country where the city has grown and there is currently no home network that serves everyone. This is another effort”, he emphasized.
According to the minister, out of the more than 10 million inhabitants of Luanda, only 4 million have access to piped water.
He also highlighted the program to combat drought, which has received special attention from the holder of the Executive power, in a program that includes three provinces, Cunene, Namibe and Huíla.
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The official said that there are great efforts being made by the Executive by building new water supply and treatment systems, in provincial capitals and municipal headquarters.
In his understanding, sanitation also requires investment, capital to build systems and a great effort that has to do with sustainability, guaranteeing the functioning of payment systems.
João Baptista Borges gave this information on the sidelines of the National Water and Sanitation Forum (FONAS) held today in Luanda, on the occasion of the World Water Day (March 22).
