The Minister of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity, Aimé Molendo Sakombi, launched the construction of a new water treatment plant in Kananga, in the Central Kasaï province, on Monday. The plant will be built on the Lulua River with the goal of serving over 60,000 households by 2029. This project is part of the government's program to improve access to electricity and water. The new plant aims to address the long-standing issue of access to clean water in Kananga.
The project is financed by the World Bank to the tune of $160 million. The current water treatment plant in Kanyuka has been facing frequent breakdowns and has limited capacity, making it difficult to meet the needs of the population. The situation has severe consequences, particularly for women, children, and healthcare structures. The governor of Central Kasaï, Joseph-Moïse Kambulu, highlighted the impact of this situation on the inhabitants.
The new plant will extract water from the Lulua River, treat and store it, and then distribute it to several neighborhoods in Kananga. According to Minister Aimé Molendo Sakombi, the project will enable 60,000 households to access clean water, which translates to approximately 1.5 million people. The project also includes the installation of 30,000 new household connections and 266 public fountains.
The project aims to improve the living conditions of the population, particularly women and children, who are often affected by the lack of access to clean water. The governor of Central Kasaï emphasized that the situation is unacceptable, with women spending a significant amount of time searching for water, and children being exposed to poor hygiene conditions.
The new water treatment plant is expected to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the population. The project is part of the government's efforts to improve access to basic services, including water and electricity. The Minister of Hydraulic Resources and Electricity assured that the project will be completed on time and will benefit the people of Kananga.
The project also includes a component for the management of the public fountains, with half of them being managed by women's structures. This will not only provide access to clean water but also empower women and promote their participation in the management of public services.
Once completed, the new water treatment plant will significantly improve the living conditions of the people of Kananga. The project is a welcome relief to the population, who have been facing difficulties in accessing clean water for decades. The government and the World Bank are working together to ensure that the project is completed and that the benefits are felt by the population.
Key points
- The new water treatment plant in Kananga will serve 1.5 million people by 2029.
- The project is financed by the World Bank to the tune of $160 million.
- The plant will have a capacity to serve 60,000 households and will include 30,000 new household connections and 266 public fountains.
