Africa-Press – Malawi. In a bid to reduce water challenges within Lilongwe, the Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) on Tuesday launched a $1.5 million (about K1.275 billion) Chikungu Solar Powered Water Pumping Station in Lilongwe’s Area 38.
The solar powered station was launched on the sidelines of celebrations marking World Water Day, which was held under the theme ‘Ground Water: Making the Invisible, Visible’.
The pumping station is part of the $147 million (K124.9 billion) World Bank-funded Lilongwe Water and Sanitation Project. Speaking during the launch, Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia said the pumping station would ease water challenges that people within Lilongwe face.
She said it is the wish of her ministry to see every Malawian having access to clean and potable water. “We are happy with the commissioning of the Chikungu Solar Powered Water Pumping Station which, among other things, will ensure that people within Lilongwe have access to potable water all the time.
“I would like to thank the World Bank for assisting the Government of Malawi with the financing for this project. I can assure you that it goes a long way towards improving access to clean water and sanitation among thousands of Lilongwe City residents,” Mia said
LWB Chairperson George Kajanga said Chikungu Water Station has increased water capacity at the facility to 3.5 million cubic metres from 1.5 million cubic metres. He said the commissioning of the station is part of helping government to achieve the Malawi 2063 goals.
“This is no mean achievement to us. We have invested a lot of money and the site will be run using solar panels. With the additional station, the board is sure that we will be able to reach as far as Nanjiri with water supply,” Kajanga said.
World Bank Country Representative Hugh Riddell said the bank was committed to helping the nation achieve its goals. “As I am speaking, the bank is already negotiating with other water boards within the country to help them come up with water projects that will benefit even rural Malawians,” Riddell said.
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