A Chinese expert team has arrived in Namibia to assess groundwater potential across all 14 regions, as the government explores future borehole drilling and water provision initiatives.
The two-week feasibility study will assess potential groundwater availability, water quality and the technical requirements and conditions for borehole drilling in identified areas.
Executive Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Teofilus Nghitila, said identifying additional water resources is particularly important for Namibia.
“Finding and securing water resources is critical for Namibia, particularly during the current season,” Nghitila said.
“This exercise is therefore important as it will help us better understand where potential water resources are located and what is technically required to develop them,” Nghitila said.
Namibia remains a water-stressed country, with Nghitila saying the “identification, assessment and sustainable development” of available water resources is critical to the country’s long-term water security.
Nationwide assessment
The Chinese experts are also expected to engage regional councils during the feasibility study.
According to Nghitila, the assessment will examine “potential groundwater availability, water quality and the technical requirements and conditions for borehole drilling” in areas identified during the exercise.
“The findings are expected to provide what the ministry described as a “technical basis for future planning” and potential water provision initiatives,” Nghitila said.
He did add that the assessment does not yet mean boreholes will be drilled, with the current exercise aimed at establishing the feasibility of groundwater development and the conditions required for such drilling.
Future China cooperation
Beyond identifying groundwater potential, the exercise could pave the way for deeper cooperation between Namibia and China on water provision.
Nghitila said the study will “inform future cooperation between Namibia and China”, including discussions towards possible memoranda of understanding on groundwater development and water provision.
“It described the initiative as an “important step towards strengthening technical cooperation” and exploring sustainable solutions to Namibia’s water challenges,” Nghitila said.
