Luanda – National Water Council (CNA) recommended Friday the revision and updating of the 1969 Agreement on the use of Water Resources in the Cunene Hydrographic Basin between Angola and Namibia.
The recommendation is expressed in the press release from the 7th Ordinary session chaired by the Vice President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, stating that the meeting analysed the proposal of nine-axe action plan for the 2023-2027.
The proposal covers development of instruments for Planning and Management of Water Resources, the harmonisation and compatibility of legislation with stress to the matter between the different sectors.
The document also points to the regularisation of concessions for the use of water resources of great economic, social and environmental impact.
It also focuses on the promotion of public-private partnerships in the management of hydrographic basins and the prevention of conflicts over the use of such resources between local communities and other users.
The Council was informed about structural solutions to combat the effects of drought, aligned with the Energy and Water sector (2018-2022) and National Water (PNA) action plans.
The two plans aim at reinforcing the water supply to municipal and communal centres, the Cafu (Cunene) water transfer system and the construction of dams and associated pipelines.
The Council also learnt of the regularisation of the Calueque dam, hydroelectric project on the middle Cunene with the capacity to store 475 million cubic meters of water.
The session provided information on ongoing actions on the right bank of the Cunene River, where the Cova do Leão and Terra dams on the Caculuvar River are being rehabilitated, as well as the integrated systems of Cahama – Otchinjau and the water supply from Chitado.
The communiqué states that the participants were briefed on the structuring solutions underway in the province of Namibe, aimed at combating the effects of the drought with the construction of the Bentiaba, Bero, Carunjamba, Giraúl, Inamangando and Curoca dams.
The press release indicates that the public tender for the recovery and silt removal of 43 stone masonry dams in Namibe has been approved, with 21
in the municipality of Bibala, 16 in Camucuio and six in Moçâmedes and
Virei.
The National Water Council, created by Presidential Decree number 76/17, of April 20, is a permanent advisory body of the holder of the Executive Power, for coordination and articulation among the different ministerial departments, directly and indirectly linked to planning, management and use of water resources.
Friday’s session approved the regulations of the Executive Committee of the CNA and of the respective Permanent Secretariat and its budget for 2023.
Source: Angola Press News Agency
