The Prime Minister of Gabon, Mrs. Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, and the Director of the country office of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) in Gabon, Robert Masumbuko, proceeded, Wednesday, March 31 in Libreville, to the pose the foundation stone marking the start of rehabilitation and extension work on the drinking water network of Greater Libreville, which is home to more than half of the country’s population, ie 300,000 inhabitants.
The Libreville Integrated Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Program (PIAEPAL) is funded to the tune of 75 billion CFA francs (114.5 million euros) by the Bank. Its objective is the construction of 300 kilometers of drinking water network in Greater Libreville, an urban area that includes the intramural capital and the municipalities of Oweno, Akanda, and Ntoum.
“The government is working to improve the living conditions of its populations. This is a firm instruction from the head of state (Ali Bongo Odimba), “said Ms. Ossouka Raponda, head of the Gabonese government.
“With the implementation of this project, the African Development Bank is positioning itself firmly by your side in achieving this major objective of improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of Greater Libreville,” said Robert. Masumbuko. The days are approaching when all the inhabitants of Greater Libreville will have a supply of tap water, in sufficient quantity and at an affordable price (…) The populations, in particular the women, will no longer wait for hours, at night, for themselves. stock up. “
According to Robert Masumbuko, the African Development Bank is aware of the fact that the water problem in Gabon goes beyond the framework of Greater Libreville alone. In other cities such as Lambaréné, Franceville, Oyem, Makokou, there is also a problem of access to drinking water from the tap. “Rest assured, Madam Prime Minister, that the Bank will also be present for these future projects”, he added, in the presence of the project manager, Bruno Zali Zali, and the mayors of the communes of Libreville, Oweno and Akanda. .
Gabon has a considerable potential of water resources estimated at 170 billion m3 per year and has one of the highest levels of annual water resources per capita, around 127,825 m3 per year. However, the country has a significant infrastructure deficit to mobilize these resources to meet all the essential needs of Gabonese. In fact, less than 55% of Gabonese have access to drinking water in urban areas. In rural areas of the country, the rate of access to this basic service is even lower, less than 40% of the population.
