South African water projects get €220m funding

17 May 2011

South Africa's Mooi-Mgeni water supply project has received a welcome €220 million (£192 million) boost from the Development Bank of Southern Africa and three European finance partners.

The project, which includes construction of the Spring Grove Dam on the Mooi River and a conveyance system to transfer water to the Mgeni River catchment, aims to provide six million people in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province with clean drinking water.

Agreements were signed by the European Investment Bank, the French Agency for Development and KfW Entwicklungsbank at an event to mark the start of construction for the project.

South Africa's minister of water and environmental affairs Edna Molewa said that water access and supply is a key priority for the government.

"This is a multi-year project which will have a long term impact on South Africa's economic development and it will contribute a great deal to our new economic growth path imperatives," Ms Molewa said.

It follows news that five multi-national corporations announced plans to provide access to safe drinking water in Africa.

Category: Water