Fluence Corporation, an American water-treatment company, has suspended the construction of its drinking water plant in Ivory Coast due to Covid-19.
The global leader in decentralized water and wastewater solutions said the construction works on the drinking water plant in Abidjan set to commence; June 30, 2020 will not kick off as planned.
According to Fluence, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on global air travel has resulted in the challenge of submitting original documents for signing, and completion of the prerequisites.
Henry Charrabé, Managing Director of Fluence Corporation says progress is being made to ensure the preconditions are met in due time.
“The Project continues to receive support from all stakeholders, however, some of the issues posed by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused challenges for travel and/or delivering original documents for signing,” Fluence stated.
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Once all conditions precedent have been met, which the company expects will be shortly, the cash payments related to the advance payment and for work recognised during the first quarter of 2020 will be made.
The water treatment plant is a key infrastructure project for the government of Ivory Coast. It will be the largest freshwater reserve in the country located 73 km southeast of Abidjan.
The American company won the US$185 million contract to design, supply and build (EPC) an intake in the Aghien lagoon, and to lay a pipeline to transport the water to the treatment plant. The treatment plant will have a daily output capacity of 150,000 cubic meters.
The treated water will then pass through reservoirs before being pumped through the network to households in Abidjan. Fluence Corporation is also expected to treat sludge from the water purification process.
Ivory Coast is set to develop a number of drinking water supply systems across the country under the “Water for All” programme, a government initiative aimed at alleviating the increase in demand for clean water in the country.
