POWERCHINA Contributes to Water Supply in Southern Sahara Region

The Zuerat Dam Project in Mauritania has passed final inspection and is expected to support local drinking water supply.

Located in the inland mining area in Zuerat, the concrete gravity dam is 19.1 meters high and 23.3 meters long. Its reservoir can hold a maximum of 363,000 cubic meters of water.

Built by POWERCHINA Harbour Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA), the dam is the first water conservancy project in the region and is expected to provide water for domestic, industrial and animal husbandry uses in affected areas once operational.

With a permanent population of more than 40,000, Zuerat sits in the southern part of the Sahara Desert where has a severe shortage of water. The only water supply is transported from the city of Noaudhibou more than 700 kilometers away by train, which can hardly meet local need.

Although a water conservancy facility is urgently needed, dam construction in the region failed twice due to the complicated geological conditions. Therefore, the Zuerat Dam Project has been highly valued by the local government and its people since it started construction.

According to the government, water pipes are also planned to be installed to transmit water from the reservoir to the urban area 30 kilometers from the mining area to boost local economic and social development.

A view of the Zuerat Dam Project in Mauritania [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)