Repair works on a water tower in Franceville, Gabon, has been launched. The opening ceremony was conducted by the Minister responsible for Equipment, Infrastructure and Public Works, Justin Ndoundangoye.
Water tower facility
The facility will provide drinking water to some 24,000 people in the second district of Franceville, with a total estimated storage capacity of 4300 cubic meters. According to the Deputy Director General of the Gabon Energy and Water Company (SEEG), the works consist of setting up a sectoral suppressor that will back up water in existing pipes.
The project is being implemented through collaboration between the Gabonese State and the SEEG. The overall cost of the work is estimated at US $1.2m. The work is being carried out as part of the Gabonese Programme for the supply of water, electricity, street lighting and asphalting of certain roads.
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Water supply network
In recent months, the population of Franceville has been facing constant water shortages. The city has a water tower that currently produces 3,000 cubic meters of water per day. In its national strategy, Gabon aims to increase the rate of access to drinking water from 45% to 95% in urban areas and to 85% in rural areas.
To achieve these objectives, the country benefited from financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB), which financed a US $75.4m project to renew Libreville’s drinking water supply network.
The water and energy company of Gabon has of late faced strikes orchestrated by the employees demanding for the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) to fully regularise the situation of retired employees, the audit of the accounts for the requisitioning and payment of the performance bonus period and the clarification of the results for the 2018-2019 financial year.
