The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a K14.4 billion loan for the construction of an additional water treatment plant for Lilongwe City.

It is expected that once concluded, the water production for the Lilongwe City will increase by 50,000m3/day from the current 125,000m3/day to 175,000m3/day.

The additional production will result in increased hours of supply reliable and quality water from 16 hours to 24 hour a day.

Finance Minister Felix Mlusu described the loan approval as timely.

“The financing towards the TW3 under the Lilongwe Water Board has come at the right time as it will help the Board to provide potable water to the growing urban population in Lilongwe City and surrounding areas,” said Mlusu.

Silli Mbewe, Lilongwe Water Board Acting Chief Executive Officer said the construction of third Water Treatment Plant is critical following the upgrading of Kamuzu Dam 1.

“Once completed, water production will increase to 175,000m3/day at an assurance level of between 96 and 97 percent, this would mean that we will be able to abstract and treat an additional 50,000m3/day which is enough to meet the growing demand,” said Mbewe.

Meanwhile, LWB is implementing the Lilongwe Water Resource Efficiency Program (LWREP) through which, among others, it is rehabilitating and raising the Kamuzu Dam 1 by 7 meters, with funding from EIB, to secure water resources to 2025.