Fatshimetrie magazine is proud to present an exclusive investigation highlighting the critical situation of access to drinking water in the city of Kananga, capital of the province of Kasai Central in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A hot topic, revealing the challenges faced by Regideso, the local water distribution company, and the major pitfalls encountered in the management of this vital resource.
At the heart of this problem, the alarming observation mentioned by the Director General of Regideso, David Tshilumba, during a press conference organized in the presence of the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya. With only 300 subscribers to Regideso in the entire city of Kananga, and insufficient income from these subscriptions, the financial situation of the company is very precarious.
The figures speak for themselves: an average bill of 10 to 20 USD per subscriber, 34 standpipes bringing in barely 50,000 CDF per day, and exponential fuel costs to power the generators of the catchment plant. David Tshilumba highlights the scale of the challenges to be met, particularly in terms of profitability and covering the energy needs of the facility.
Faced with this financial impasse, Regideso is considering a major project: the construction of a new drinking water treatment plant, scheduled for June 2025. An ambitious initiative intended to improve access to drinking water for the inhabitants of Kananga, but also to ensure the sustainability of Regideso’s services in the region.
The new plant project is accompanied by an innovative dimension: the integration of a hydroelectric power plant to guarantee energy autonomy and optimize the operation of the facility. An innovative approach that could revolutionize water distribution in Kananga and meet the growing needs of the population.
In addition, the collaboration with financial partners such as the World Bank demonstrates the desire to perpetuate this project and ensure its long-term success. A crucial financial support that will not only contribute to modernizing the region’s water infrastructure, but also to improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of Kananga.
With more than 1.5 million inhabitants spread across five municipalities and many neighborhoods, the city of Kananga represents a major challenge in terms of drinking water distribution. The project to build the new plant promises to be a decisive turning point in the quest for efficient and sustainable management of this essential resource.
In short, the current situation of Regideso in Kananga reveals the major challenges facing the water distribution company, but also the opportunities for transformation and improvement that are looming on the horizonThrough this innovative project, Kananga positions itself as an example of progress and innovation in the field of access to drinking water in the Democratic Republic of Congo.