Chad is making progress in implementing its water projects, thanks in particular to the support of its development partners. The two latest initiatives to receive funding are the rural and semi-urban drinking water supply and sanitation program (PAEPA SU-MR) launched in 2018, and the Nubian sandstone aquifer development project for climate change resilience (NUREC) to be launched shortly. On February 5, 2024, they recorded a total of 27.2 billion CFA francs (just over 41 million euros) in their portfolios.
The vast majority of the loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB), more than 22.6 billion CFA francs (34.5 million euros), will be used to finance the second phase of PAEPA SU-MR. The intervention zones are the provinces of Mandoul, Mayo Kebbi East, Mayo Kebi West, Ennedi East, Salamat and Sila.
In these six provinces, the work involves the construction of large-diameter agricultural boreholes, 24 drinking water mini-adductions (AEP) equipped with solar and thermal pumps, 23 production boreholes with a flow rate Q ≥ 40 m3 per hour equipped with 25 submersible pumps, 225 human-powered pumps and 50 hydraulic production units. The Chadian government is also planning to rehabilitate and extend two existing water supply systems, and to develop and equip agricultural gardens for small-scale irrigation by women’s groups (solar submersible pump and 30 to 50 m3 metal storage tank).
The sanitation component of PAEPA SU-MR II will enable the installation of garbage bins and the development of final landfill sites.
Development of the Nubian Sandstone aquifers
The remaining 4.5 billion CFA francs (6.8 million euros) will be used to finance work on the Nurec project, which aims to exploit the Nubian sandstone aquifers in the Ennedi and Borkou regions of Chad, to improve access to water for the population and thus limit the risks associated with water-borne diseases.
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These water tables will be enhanced by 14 large-diameter boreholes and 14 monitoring piezometers (tools used to measure the height of the water table and take water samples, by dipping lead-weighted flasks into them, editor’s note). What’s more, the Nurec will help ensure that ecosystems and populations in the project areas are fully resilient to the effects of climate change.
Inès Magoum