Page 10 - AsiaElec Week 31 2022
P. 10
AsiaElec HYDRO AsiaElec
Zambia’s president commissions
$150mn Chinese-funded water
supply project
CHINA ZAMBIA has commissioned a $150mn Chi- water in order to avoid wastage in view of the
nese-funded project that aims to improve water challenges brought by climate change.
supply and sanitation for some 500,000 people “For example, once the water has been used
living in Lusaka, the capital city. in our households, we should find ways to har-
The Kafue Bulk Water Supply Project, initi- ness it again for other uses such as agriculture
ated in 2016, was financed by the Export-Im- purposes,” he said, as quoted by Xinhua.
port Bank of China (China Exim Bank) and Hichilema, who is also the Global Cholera
constructed by China Civil Engineering Con- Control Champion, said he takes seriously the
struction Corporation (CCECC). Zambia con- levels of water and sanitation resources.
tributed $14mn to the cost. Eric Ding, the general manager of the
The project involved the construction of an CCECC Zambia, thanked the Zambian gov-
intake structure, treatment plant, booster station ernment and the local people for their support
and transmission lines to deliver a total of 50,000 during the construction period.
cubic meters of water per day, according to Chi- Public broadcaster Zambia National Broad-
nese national news agency, Xinhua on July 29. casting Corporation expects the project “to put
President Hakainde Hichilema and the Chi- to an end water to blues and challenges of sani-
nese ambassador to Zambia, Du Xiaohui, as well tation in most parts of Lusaka and surrounding
as officials from the CCECC, attended the com- areas.”
missioning ceremony. The United Nations estimates that about
Speaking at the event, Du commended 6.4mn of the country’s 18mn people lack access
CCECC and other stakeholders for completing to clean running water while 8mn have no access
the project which, he said, will help improve to enough sanitation.
access to safe and clean drinking water for On July 16, Hichilema launched the Zambia
Lusaka residents. Water Investment Programme under which the
He said the water supply capacity of the pro- country hopes to invest $5.75bn in water pro-
ject also contributed to the creation of about jects by 2030. Part of the larger $30bn Interna-
1,000 jobs and enhanced capacity building. tional High-Level Panel on Water Investments
Hichilema praised China for financing the for Africa, the initiative is expected to enhance
construction of the water plant. He challenged access to safe water to millions in Zambia and
water utilities in the country to find more inno- create some 200,000 jobs, local daily the Lusaka
vative ways of efficiently and effectively using Times reports.
P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 31 03•August•2022
