County contracts two firms to develop desalination plant

Mombasa Governor Honorable Ali Hassan Joho with CEO of Almar Water Solutions Carlos Cosín. [Photo: Courtesy]

 

Mombasa County has awarded Spanish Almar Water Solutions company and Switzerland's Aqua Swiss contracts to build Kenya’s first ever desalination plant.

Almar water will set up plant in the North Mainland zone that will hold 100,000 cubic meters per day supply of drinking water serving over one million locals of the county and will be managed for 25 years.

The Aqua Swiss will build 30,000 cubic meters of desalination plant in Likoni.

Mombasa county has been hard hit by perennial water crisis interrupting the supply of clean drinking water.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho flanked by CEO of Almar Water Solutions Carlos Cosín and Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, Faddy Jameel during a press conference stated that the desalination plant in the North Mainland Zone will be able to pump more than 100,000 cubic meters per day ensuring quality water supply to over a million people in the county.

Governor Joho observed that the growth in population in the county needs more water supply to counter demand.

“The increasing population has led to increase in demand while the supply form neighbouring counties keep fluctuating. Currently the demand stands at 200,000 cubic meters against a supply of 42,000 cubic meters,” said Governor Joho.

Almar Water CEO, Carlos Cosín expressed his optimism in working with the county government to develop this important project and said that the project is expected to commence in June 2019 with locals set to receive water by 2021.

Desalination project that will cost the county Sh16 billion,  will enable the county to generate enough water that will help the community well as enhance economic activities.

On July 2010, United Nations General Assembly recognized the human right to water and sanitation.

Statement from Almar Water Solutions say that the contract will help Kenya achieve a major milestone in terms of development and improvement in African continent’s infrastructure network.