China-backed project brings clean water access to southern Chad communities
Families in Chad's Mandoul and Salamat provinces have long faced the burden of daily, lengthy journeys to collect water, often of poor quality. Robgué Ozias, a resident of Madan in Koumra, previously walked four kilometers daily for water, a hardship endured for generations. This situation has significantly improved following the arrival of Chinese engineers in late October 2024 and the commencement of work by China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd. (CJIC). The project has since completed over 500 boreholes with manual pumps, 57 centralized water stations, and more than 100 public latrines. Project site manager Huo Wenlong stated that manual pump boreholes average over 45 meters deep, centralized stations exceed 90 meters, and the deepest wells reach over 150 meters, all adhering to strict quality and quantity standards after thorough preliminary analysis. A major challenge was overcome in Aboudeïa, Salamat province, where previous attempts failed for 20 years due to low water content in the rock; the CJIC team successfully reached an adequate flow after eight months. In early June, journalists witnessed the impact in Madan, where women and children now access clean water from stations just dozens of meters away, a stark contrast to the previous four-kilometer trek. This project, bearing the "China Aid" logo, is expected to benefit over 600,000 people, according to Chadian Minister of Water and Energy Passalet Kanabé Marcelin, significantly aiding the national water and sanitation program, particularly in vulnerable rural areas. Local leaders like Madan's chief, Mrangué Madjingain, and Mandoul's Water and Energy delegate, Mangué Oudah Ali, have praised the project for bringing hope, relief, and enabling women and farmers to focus on production. The system ensures uninterrupted supply through a dual-feed system, utilizing solar power during the day and switching to a generator in the evening or on cloudy days.
This initiative addresses a critical infrastructure deficit in southern Chad, demonstrating the tangible impact of international development cooperation on basic human needs. The project's success in overcoming significant geological challenges highlights the importance of technical expertise and sustained effort in resource development. By improving access to clean water, the project is poised to yield cascading benefits in public health, agricultural productivity, and the reallocation of labor, particularly for women and children who previously bore the brunt of water collection. The dual-power system underscores a forward-looking approach to ensuring service reliability in regions with inconsistent energy infrastructure. Future evaluations could assess the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure, community management models, and the broader socio-economic shifts enabled by this essential resource.
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