Chinese-built water supply project to benefit livelihoods in Angola’s capital

At the construction site of the Quilonga Water Supply Project undertaken by the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) in eastern Luanda, Angola’s capital, workers are busy at their tasks in an orderly fashion.

Figueira Kalunga, a safety management technician, moves around the site, carefully inspecting workers’ helmets, harnesses, and other protective equipment.

Kalunga has been involved in several PowerChina projects since 2017, starting as a steel fixer. “I am proud to be part of this project that benefits people’s livelihoods. It not only creates jobs for many Angolans, but will also benefit a large number of residents once completed,” he said.

Luanda has long suffered from severe water shortages due to drought, aging facilities, and inadequate treatment and distribution capacity.

Antonio Fernandes Rodrigues Belsa da Costa, secretary of state for water at Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water, said at the project site that the capital city still faces a water supply gap of up to 50 percent, with some areas receiving water only once every two to three days.

According to project manager Zhang Qiang, the Quilonga Water Supply Project consists of a raw water pumping station with a daily capacity of 570,000 cubic meters, a 12.5-km raw water pipeline, a water treatment plant with a daily capacity of 500,000 cubic meters, and five distribution centers.

Construction is proceeding as planned, and once completed, the project will significantly ease the chronic water shortages in eastern Luanda, said Zhang.

Zhang Peng, the chief engineer, said the pumping station, located on the banks of the Kwanza River, faced complex construction challenges due to swampy terrain and deep foundations.

“Through innovative engineering solutions, we have laid a solid foundation for the main structure,” he said.

Beyond construction, the project team has worked to bridge differences in regulations and technical standards between China and Angola. They have also promoted cultural exchange by organizing activities, offering language training, and hiring local engineers with study experience in China, which helps foster mutual understanding and cooperation among staff.

Helmano Adriano, administrator of the municipality of Bom Jesus, where the project is located, praised PowerChina’s commitment to local communities through public welfare projects, such as building drinking water systems, installing power grids, and supporting community initiatives, which directly benefit thousands of residents.

“The Quilonga Water Supply Project will significantly improve water supply in the capital and basically close the gap. We are confident that upon completion in 2026, it will greatly ease Luanda’s water shortages,” said Belsa da Costa.

source: Xinhua