UAE's Metito seals $75mn Rwanda water project contract

UAE-based water management solutions provider Metito has been selected by the Government of Rwanda to develop a water project worth $75m.

The project, a public private partnership venture, will supply sustainable bulk water in Kigali to serve Kigali city’ potable water requirements.

The signing took place in Kigali, Rwanda, at a ceremony coordinated by Rwanda’s Development Board (the country’s investment promotion organ), the Water and Sanitation Corporation Ltd (WASAC), and the Ministry of Infrastructure – and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

This project is the first water concession contract of such scale awarded by Rwanda’s authorities, and the largest in terms of capacity and value in Sub Saharan Africa, outside of South Africa.

Metito chairman and CEO Mutaz Ghandour said: “We have successfully implemented projects under concession basis across a number of other markets but the strategic implications of this particular project make it truly special. We are genuinely honoured to be part of this sustainable and visionary project that will serve the people of Kigali today and for generations to come.”

Metito has established Kigali Water, a fully owned subsidiary of Metito that will be managing this inaugural project and all future local projects.

The plant, which will take approximately two years to construct, will be located in Kanzenze in the South Eastern part of Kigali.

On completion the plant will supply 40,000 m3/d of treated groundwater, which will be extracted from the south bank of the Nyabarongo River.

It will supplement existing water supplies and meet Kigali’s growing water demands – a city with a population of over one million residents.

Through the 27-year PPP arrangement, Metito will be responsible for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the treatment plant, and forwarding infrastructure including transmission pipelines to three storage reservoirs of 7,500 m3; 5,000 m3; and 7,500 m3.

Speaking at the signing, Hon. Germaine Kamayirese, Minister of State in Charge of Energy, Water and Sanitation said: “Rwanda is undergoing massive economic development, it is imperative that we have the infrastructure that can support the country’s ambitions. The implementation of this project is part of the Vision 2020 plan to keeping up with increased demand for clean water, while improving its quality.”

Metito was founded by the Ghandour family as the first specialist water treatment company in the Middle East.