By Josephine W. Lagawo in Freetown
232News
Deputy Managing Director for Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) Albert Harvey has said that US$ 55M has been put in place for six districts to benefit from water projects of the company.
The six districts are Moyamba, Magburaka, Kambia, Koinadugu, Port Loko, and Pujehun districts.
He stated that their budget allocation for 2022 was Le 5bn but the company only received Le 2.5bn in August, noting that, the institution has been struggling for funds, noting that in 2021, they generated Le 3,876,714 as government revenue.
He explained that the short terms objectives of SALWACO is to increase revenue mobilization to 300% and to implement the newly approved tariffs which was launched in July this year from NLE 5, 700to NLE 15.
He pointed out that in doing so, they are going to introduce smart metering and prepaid metering system which will take effect in 2023
He said that by the 2nd quarter in 2023, the company will focus on the completion of the following projects a six towns water supply projects and for 2nd batches four towns such as are Mattru, Njala and Daru are going to benefit from US$ 15m from the Indian Exim Bank,
He said the other activities the company will undertake are 100 solar powered boreholes projects, forty five industrial bore holes project and the supply project for Koidu City.
He said that the revenue collected from January to July 2022 is Le 2,958,786,33, reiterating that they are asking for 5bn but to complete all their work they need Le 30BN.
