In Angola, the sanitation project in four coastal towns is finally getting underway, following the release of $124.4 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) on October 3. The project will give 1.4 million Angolans access to sanitation services that are "sustainable and resilient to climate change".
The African Development Bank (AfDB) disbursed the $124.4 million following the signing of financing agreements between Angola’s Finance Minister, Vera Daves de Sousa, and the head of the financial institution’s country office in Angola, Pietro Toigo. The financing comprises a $75 million loan from the AfDB and a second loan of $49.4 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), a $2 billion facility sponsored by the People’s Bank of China and administered by the pan-African bank.
“We are delighted to be involved in this innovative integrated project, which combines elements of investment in infrastructure, support for private sector operators, community-led sanitation and governance to improve the sustainability of public services”, said Pietro Toigo on 3 October, after the initialling ceremony with Minister Vera Daves de Sousa in Luanda, the capital of Angola.
Treatment of wastewater and faecal sludge
The Angolan government will use this funding to strengthen sanitation services in the cities of Benguela, Baía Farta, Catumbela and Lobito, located in the west of the country, in particular by developing sanitation infrastructure and building the capacity of staff and institutions.
“The works will involve the rehabilitation and construction of 65 km of sewage pipes, including 49 km in Benguela and 16 km in Lobito, and 10 pumping stations, including five in Benguela and five in Lobito. Two wastewater treatment plants with a total capacity of 33,000 m3 per day will also be rehabilitated in Benguela and Lobito”, says the AfDB.
The government of this Central African country is also planning to build new sewage sludge treatment plants, two of which, with a combined capacity of 750 m3 per day, will serve Benguela and Baía Farta. A third plant will be built in Lobito, with a capacity of 510 m3 per day.
At least 17,000 improved sanitation facilities for households
The faecal sludge will pass through thirteen new temporary transfer stations in Baía Farta (three), Benguela (six) and Lobito (four). At least eight emptying trucks and 16 hoovers will make it easier for service providers to empty, collect and transport the sludge. In addition, 9,869 new customers will be connected to the sewerage service in the cities of Lobito and Benguela.
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To improve sanitation services for the targeted 1.4 million inhabitants, the Angolan authorities are also focusing on improved sanitation facilities for households. As part of the sanitation project, 17,000 additional sanitary facilities will be built for households (4,970 in Benguela, 7,140 in Baia Farta, 1,026 in Catumbela and 3,864 in Lobito), with hand-washing facilities for each sanitary block.
Schools, health centres, markets and public places (138 in Benguela, 22 in Baía Farta, 22 in Catumbela and 124 in Lobito) will benefit from 309 new public sanitation facilities to reduce open defecation.
Inès Magoum
