Government Reaffirms Commitment to Increasing Water Supply

Luanda: The Minister of Energy and Water, Joo Baptista Borges, on Sunday reaffirmed the Angolan government's commitment to increasing the production and distribution of drinking water in areas still facing supply shortages of this precious liquid, in the provinces of Luanda and Ícolo e Bengo. The minister reiterated this commitment at the end of a technical visit to Water Treatment Plants (ETA) and distribution centers, with the aim of assessing the progress of rehabilitation works and accelerating the supply of drinking water to the population. According to Angola Press News Agency, the minister also called on the Public Water Company (EPAL) to strengthen its technical involvement and ensure a faster response to the population's water needs. Joo Baptista Borges, who was accompanied by the Secretary of State for Water, António Belsa da Costa, and other officials of the sector, visited the Calumbo ETA, Kikuxi 1 and 2, Luanda Sudeste, and the Golf Distribution Center (CD), reviewing the progress of works aimed at improving the water supply to thousands of families. The Calumbo ETA, located in Icolo e Bengo, is undergoing rehabilitation, with the goal of restoring its full capacity of 51,840 cubic meters of water per day. Its scope includes the Zango 5 water treatment plant, benefiting the central area of the same name, which serves the "Futuro Luanda Limpa" project and surrounding areas, as well as the Zango 3 water treatment plant, which supplies Zangos 1, 2, and 3. The completion of the construction is scheduled for June 2026. The Kikuxi 1 ETA should recover the nominal capacity of 6,318 and 25,920 cubic meters per day, and is also under rehabilitation, as well as the Golf District, which was also visited by the minister. With a capacity of 216,000 cubic meters per day, the Kikuxi 2 WTP is also under construction, while the Luanda Sudeste WTP, scheduled for completion in September 2026, has a large coverage area, including several distribution centers. Finally, the Golf ETA, also visited by the minister, is al so undergoing rehabilitation. During the visit, Joo Baptista Borges expressed concern about the pace of construction and advised contractors to speed up the work to allow for a gradual increase in water production and distribution before the end of the semester.