Power shortage hinders Djibouti water supply

A Chinese contractor, CGC overseas Construction Group Ltd, has blamed electric power shortages for impeding the operations of the 339 million dollars worth trans-boundary water project, to pump potable water to neighboring Djibouti.

The cross-border potable water project, which was contracted to the Chinese firm CGC-OC Group Ltd., is currently being forced to spend more on diesel generators, as it was unable to get electric power despite the installation of an electric grid.

The Ethio-Djibouti Trans-boundary Water Project, which boasts about a 220-km transmission pipeline, crossing seven towns all the way from Adigala and Dewale to Djibouti City, is considered as one of the biggest water projects in Africa.

According to information obtained from the Chinese company, even though a 44-km-long network of water collection pipes,  connecting 28 boreholes in the Ethiopian side was installed, the project is yet to operate at its full capacity mainly due to lack of electricity, which is required to pump the water. Currently, the operating machineries of the project consume up to 1,000-liters of diesel per hour, to operate the system and provide portable water for less than 20 percent of the initial target population of Djibouti.

Built after a bilateral agreement between the governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti was signed back in 2015; it aims to provide 100,000 cubic meter potable water daily, to Djibouti from Shinile Zone of Ethiopia’s Somali regional state for a period of 30 years.

The project is currently serving about 15-20 percent of the water demand of Djibouti’s capital as well as the entire water demands of Djibouti’s second largest City, Alisabih.