Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Cameroon, China strike water deal: report

Terra Daily, via Agence France-Presse: Cameroon and China have clinched an agreement to increase water production and distribution in Cameroon's economic capital Douala, the government daily Cameroon Tribune reported Monday. Bankrolled by a 11-billion CFA loan from Pekin (16.l7 million euros, 24 million dollars), the project includes the construction of pipes, wells and a potable water treatment plant, the newspaper said.

The Chinese firm CGC Overseas Construction Co. is to realise the project, which reportedly begins in January and aims to boost Douala's water production capacity from 115,000 to 260,000 cubic metres in a year. According to the newspaper, only a third of Douala's inhabitants currently have direct access to potable water and the city regularly suffers from cholera epidemics.

The construction company becomes the second Chinese company to operate in the West African port city; another was involved in road maintenance. China's presence and influence is spreading rapidly across resource-rich Africa, posing new competition for European and other foreign investors.

No comments: