EIB supports development of water infrastructure in Lilongwe, Malawi

European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a €24m loan to the Lilongwe Water Board in Malawi to support its €49.2m investment programme in water sector in the capital city.

The country capital is expected to see a 100% population growth within the next two decades, which calls for water investments.

Lilongwe Water Board intends to upgrade and renovate water infrastructure in the city over the next four years, as well as improve the supply of water in low-income areas which suffer due to limited services and water leakage issues.

The investment programme planned by the water authority is likely to ensure optimum use of the existing water network in the city, which has scarce water resources.

Water in Lilongwe has been rationed for the past three years with the population increasing by 4% each year, and the city being dependent on the Lilongwe river.

The programme intends to increase daily water storage capacity and supply in the city by an additional 30,000m³.

It will also develop 100 water kiosks across the low-income areas and replace old pipes and pumps which block the water system in the city.

Lilongwe also plans to expand its water supply networks to connect new areas across the African city.

Lilongwe Water Board chief executive officer Eng. Alfonso Chikuni said: "With this new investment project Lilongwe Water Board is closing the gap between supply and demand. By increasing the supply of quality water we will secure the supply clean drinking water for 250,000 people by 2021.

"This will involve addressing critical issues concerning water quantity and quality, quality of service, efficiency, and continued capacity building of the local water practitioners."

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Image: Lilongwe river, Malawi. Photo: courtesy of Thomas Wagner / Wikipedia