Teddy Lwamba, the DRC’s Minister of Hydraulic Resources, announced last week the imminent construction of a water treatment plant in the Lukunga district of Kinshasa. The official announced the project in Beijing, on the sidelines of the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China First Highway Engineering will build the plant.

The project should improve access to drinking water for Kinshasa residents. According to recent figures from the Ministry of Hydraulics, water coverage in the country is only 34%, and water availability is equally complex in big cities and rural areas.

It's worth noting that the DRC allocates just 0.3% of its annual budget to the water sector, according to the World Bank. This low investment explains the limited development of water distribution networks. This is also why populations rely on unsafe water sources, leading to the prevalence of waterborne diseases in the country.

Besides boosting water supply, the project will integrate more sustainable solutions into distribution processes. For example, the energy source used by the Congolese water utility, REGIDESO, will be switched–from thermal energy to photovoltaic systems.

Once operational, the plant will play a key role in implementing reforms aimed at transforming access to public services in the DRC, particularly in the Kinshasa region.

OS