AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AGREES TO FUND EXPANSION OF MAHE’S MAIN RESERVOIR
(Posted 08th April 2015)
The expansion of the main water reservoir on the island of Mahe will cost the Seychelles’ government some 26 million US Dollars. The African Development Bank will provide a grant of 1.4 million US Dollars, a soft loan of 20.6 million US Dollars and the Seychelles will provider counterpart funding worth nearly 4 million US Dollars to undertake this ambitious project.
The money will pay to raise the walls of the La Gogue dam by some 6 metres, increasing holding capacity by a staggering 60 percent but also built a new water treatment plant.
Changes in weather pattern have in recent years seen water rationing being imposed on the residents of Mahe and the increase in capacity of the island’s main water reservoir will bring much needed relief to consumers and businesses. Work on the project is expected to commence late next year and will take approximately two years to complete.
The number of new tourist resorts have added pressure on the water system and the island, at least in part, now relies on desalination plants to still the growing thirst for fresh potable water by householders, businesses and resorts.
