The European Investment Bank (EIB Global), the French Development Agency (AFD), the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund, and the Tanzanian government all contributed to the €150 million project.
The second most populous region in Tanzania now has much better access to clean water and hygienic conditions because to the expansion and modernization of the water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Mwanza and the surrounding areas.
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, and representatives of Team Europe, who provided financial support, attended the opening of the Butimba water treatment plant, which is a component of the €150 million Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation (LVWATSAN) project, which aims to expand and improve the water supply and sanitation systems in Northern Tanzania.
The project received a €75 million loan from France through the French Development Agency (AFD), and €45 million in loans and €4 million in technical assistance from the European Investment Bank (EIB Global). A €9.9 million grant from the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund was also given to the city of Mwanza to promote long-term investment planning and to improve the operational and financial capabilities of nearby water and sanitation utilities. Additionally, the United Republic of Tanzania’s government provided €16 million to help carry out the project.
A important milestone in the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation project, the opening of the Butimba Water Treatment Plant will greatly enhance access to water and sanitation in the city of Mwanza as well as the satellite towns of Misungwi, Magu, Lamadi, Bukoba, and Musoma. About 450,000 people benefit from the facility’s 44,000 cubic meters of purified water per day. Through a variety of solutions, including creative, streamlined sewerage systems adapted to Mwanza’s difficult terrain, the project has also improved sanitation services for more than 150,000 people.
“This water and sanitation project is exemplary,” French Ambassador to Tanzania H.E. Anne Sophie stated in her speech. For more than 20 years, the European Union and France have collaborated with the Tanzanian government to provide clean water to the populace. It will improve the lives of thousands of individuals. This project needed a lot of money, engineering, and political will. Putting money into the health and safety of people and children is an investment in our collective future.
“We are really proud of this Butimba water treatment project, which will greatly improve water services in the area,” stated Celine Robert, AFD Country Director for Tanzania. The Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project is a comprehensive program that includes capacity building for the Mwanza Urban Water and Sanitation Authority, network extension, sanitation services, and water production. As a sign of our ongoing dedication to water and sanitation in the Lake Victoria area, we are pleased to declare that we are prepared to increase our investment in phase 2 of the initiative.”
“Clean water is essential for life, and this project will improve health outcomes and transform the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Tanzanians living around Lake Victoria,” stated Edward Claessen, Head of the EIB Regional Hub for East Africa. The European Investment Bank is dedicated to financing more of these important investments and is the world’s leading financier of water projects.
The goal of this initiative is to improve lives by providing families in Mwanza and beyond with clean water and improved sanitation. It demonstrates what is possible when we collaborate to accomplish common objectives. Investing in people, infrastructure, and long-term development is the essence of Global Gateway and Team Europe. We are honored to support meaningful projects that address pressing issues and create a better, more sustainable future for everybody as we commemorate 50 years of the EU-Tanzania friendship,” stated H.E. Christine Grau, EU Ambassador to Tanzania and the East African Community.
Source : EIB
