The Seychelles’ Mahe water project has received US$ 25.995 million from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) for the completion. The project will help feed in demand for water in Mahe Island, expected to rise to 130% by 2030.
The Mahe Sustainable Water Augmentation Project (MSWAP) is expected to improve supply of water and shield the region against climatic effects.
The project was approved by the bank’s Board in Abidjan in 1st of this month.
On completion, the Mahe water project is aiming at achieving the country’s 2008-2030 Water Development Plan (SWDP) target, an initiative being funded and supported by the African Water Facility (AWF). AWF is hosted and managed by AfDB.
The country has water challenges since it can only meet sixty percent of its portable needs caused by limited storage capacity, although water supply is also limited due to increased demand for housing construction, and water losses along the network.
Mahe water project is anchored in the country’s Medium Term National Development Strategy ending in 2017 (has run from 2013).
The project funding will comprise of US$ 20.60 million that will be given by ADB loan and US$ 1.40 million that will be given by the Middle Income Country Technical Assistance Fund and the government will provide US$ 3.995 million.
Mahe water project will be in line with the Country Strategy Paper (CSP), an undertaking by the AfDB, being implemented in the country. Under CSP, infrastructure – and solely water infrastructure – is the main target.