23 Oct 2022

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane on Thursday commissioned Palapye Water Treatment Plant Expansion.

This was in line with government’s commitment to ensure adequate water supply to Batswana through implementation of water infrastructure projects.

The Palapye project, which forms part of the North South Carrier two phase two (NSC 2.2), was informed by the demand, which increased tremendously over the years.

The current demand in Palapye stands at 21 million litres per day against a supply capacity of 18 million litres per day, however the new plant will increase the water treatment capacity by 40 million litres per day.

The Vice President said completion of the P382 million project was one of government’s several milestones in a quest to quench thirst countrywide as promised by President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

“Government places supply of water as a basic necessity. Even under the Reset Agenda, water is at the centre of our national priorities of saving Botswana’s population from COVID-19 and supporting of value chain development,” he said.

Mr Tsogwane also highlighted that government made a difficult decision to implement water infrastructure projects during a period of challenging fiscal environment owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The intention was to create an enabling environment for commerce and industry as well as to stimulate the economy.

In line with the Economic Diversification Drive Policy, Mr Tsogwane said materials for the Palapye project, which met the specifications, were procured locally.

Such included steel pipes from Seven Stars factory in Palapye and aggregates, cement, steel reinforcement, tiles, bricks, roof sheets and bricks procured from Makoro Bricks.

Other economic benefits to the village, the Vice President said, included catering and accommodation for project officers, where at peak, the project employed 223 workers.

Mr Tsogwane commended the contractor, Stefanutti Stocks Heinsite Construction Venture, for completing the project within time, budget and with the right quality.

“The completion of this project will support the rapid growth of the Palapye and Serowe regions and create investment opportunities for industries supporting natural endowments in the area being coal mining and power generation,” he said.

Project lead engineer, Mr Bernard Brown, said the Palapye water treatment plant expansion was a state-of-the art facility that used high technology.

He said setting up the facility needed a skilled designer.

Mr Brown also noted that they did not import or buy water treatment chemicals from outside, rather they manufactured for themselves.

The lead engineer further highlighted that other countries were already coming to benchmark the top notch technology used at the plant. ENDS