Notably about 42 per cent of works at the new Kafulafuta Water Supply system Project in Masaiti district on the Copperbelt of Zambia have been completed so far.
The project financed through a US$450 million loan secured from Exim Bank of China is being conducted by China National Engineering Corporation (CNEC).
The project involves the construction of a dam and other pieces of infrastructure for the supply of water to other districts on the province, two pump stations, raw water pipelines to four treatment plants, expansion of the pipe network to unserviced areas and houses for the displaced residents where the dam is being constructed.
A team of managing directors from various water companies in the country toured the dam site in Masaiti district.
Speaking in an interview during the tour of the site, Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company (KWSC) Managing Director Athanasius Mwaba, said works were progressing well at the site.
“I am pleased with the contracts given to the local firms, 15 local contractors had been subcontracted as part of the 20 per cent sub-contracting policy,”said Mwaba.
Mwaba added that the main contractor, China National Engineering Corporation (CNEC), was laying transmission mains from the dam to Luanshya and Ndola and about 35 kilometres of pipes had been installed.
And CNEC Business Manager Bruce Zhu, said that the area was facing electricity challenges which he said hindered operations at the site.
Zhu noted that his company had engaged a local sub-contractor to put up a temporary power supply system at the site.
Zhu also stated that the company would beat the deadline of the project set for completion in June next year.
Kafulafuta Dam will hold 123 million cubic metres and will be capable of generating 300,000 cubic metres of water every day. It will have two stations to pump the water and transport it by network to four treatment sites.
Once completed, the project will provide clean water to four districts on the Copperbelt province namely Luanshya, Masaiti, Mpongwe and Ndola where water crises have been a constant problem.