NRWB dumps Paladin water plant
Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) has dumped the sophisticated water plant which Paladin Energy Limited established in Karonga after the plant malfunctioned and proved costly to maintain.
The board has since come up with another plant worth K500 million.
NRWB chief executive officer Titus Mtegha said in an interview on Tuesday the plant’s membranes malfunctioned and NRWB needs $4 million (about K2.9 billion) for rehabilitation.
He said running the plant has proved to be costly and spare parts are hard to find.
“The plant was a donation from Paladin and we have been working together with the company to supply water. But it now requires a lot of money to keep it running which we do not have,” said Mtegha.
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda said he was satisfied with the K500 million plant that NRWB has devised.
He said this shows that the board has expertise to manage plants and serve the community.
“I am impressed with the development because it is in line with President Peter Mutharika’s vision of ensuring that people have access to safe water. NRWB has observed that the corporate social responsibility project which Paladin initiated could not be sustained,” he said. n
