The American company Fluence Corporation has decided to delay the development of its drinking water project near Abidjan. This is due to the global health crisis caused by Covid-19.
In Côte d’Ivoire, coronavirus is affecting major development projects, like the one carried by the American company Fluence Corporation, to build a drinking water plant to supply the greater Abidjan area. The company based in New York State in the United States indicates that it will not start construction of its plant on the planned date; June 30, 2020.
According to Fluence, the project continues to receive the support of all stakeholders. “Although constructive progress is being made to meet the preconditions in Côte d’Ivoire, unfortunately we will not be able to meet all of them in the second quarter of 2020, as originally planned. This water treatment plant is a key infrastructure project for the government of Côte d’Ivoire, and all parties are working hard to ensure that the people of Abidjan can have safe drinking water, despite the current challenges of closed borders and global air travel,” said Henry Charrabé, Managing Director of Fluence Corporation.
“Some of the problems resulting from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic have led to difficulties in traveling and/or providing original documents for signature. Once all the prerequisites have been met, which should be the case shortly, the company will receive cash payments for the work in the year 2020,” says Fluence.
An expected production capacity of 150,000 m³ per day
The objective of the Fluence Corporation’s project is the construction of a drinking water plant that will operate the Aghien lagoon, the largest freshwater reserve in Côte d’Ivoire located 73 km southeast of Abidjan. The American company will build a pumping station and lay pipes that will bring water from the Aghien lagoon to the treatment plant, which will have a daily capacity of 150,000 cubic meters.
The treated water will then pass through reservoirs before being transported through the network to homes in Abidjan. Fluence Corporation is also expected to treat sludge from the water purification process. The Aghien Lagoon drinking water project will require an investment of €165 million.
Jean Marie Takouleu
