WATER PROJECTS.

The African Water Facility has approved a grant of around €2m for the Development of Water Resources and the Ruvyironza Multi-Purpose Dam project in Burundi. This project aims to enhance water and food security, boost access to electricity, and improve basic hygiene services. It is expected to generate 22 megawatts of hydroelectricity, provide water and sanitation services for over 270,000 rural households, and benefit an additional 417,000 people in urban areas. In South Africa, the Transnet National Ports Authority is developing a solar-powered water desalination plant at the Port of East London to improve freshwater supply. This plant will produce 0.5 mega litres per day and create approximately 100 jobs. Additionally, the Department of Water and Sanitation in South Africa is making progress on four strategic Mega Raw Water Resource augmentation projects. These projects aim to increase storage capacity and improve water supply in various regions. Finally, South Africa and Zimbabwe have signed an agreement to transfer treated water from Beitbridge to Musina, with the project expected to be completed in 2026. The treated water will comply with South Africa's water quality standards. In Mauritius, the government has launched a recycling company called PIM Recycling Ltd to address plastic pollution and promote responsible plastic use. The government plans to implement a Deposit Refund Mechanism to increase collection and recycling rates. [Extracted from the article]