Home-building, water and electricity schemes are rolled out in both cities and rural areas

All around Congo's cities there are signs of upgrading and construction work, but social housing is arguably the government's most pressing concern.

The cities of Pointe Noire, Oyo and Bacongo are already benefiting from good quality new homes, and works in Brazzaville, inhabited by 70 percent of Congo's 4.2 million people, are taking place at a steady rate.

Two districts have been earmarked for social housing initiatives - Mpila and Camp 15 aot -and will enjoy one-level independent homes with all modern facilities to mark a raise the country's living standards.

China's Weihai International Economic and Technical Cooperative Co Ltd, an integrated corporation authorized by the Ministry of Commerce of China to engage in foreign-oriented business, was awarded the contract to carry out the Camp 15 aot construction work, where 15 homes have been built.

In Mpila, after the explosions of March 4, the area is being renovated including the reconstruction of a new high school and many buildings should be finalised in a close future.

Meanwhile, the French Development Agency is funding the extension of the road along the Congo River, the urban renovation of the Brazzaville districts Maklkl and Bacongo, and the water evacuation system of Brazzaville.

The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa will be in charge of financing the renovation and equipment of one of the main hospitals in Brazzaville.

The country has also launched an ambitious water, electricity and urban development project in partnership with the World Bank.

The World Bank disbursed a loan of $125.5 million to Congo for the financing of a water, electricity and urban development project, known as Peedu.

The project is funded through the International Development Association, for $25.5 million and by Congo to the tune of $100 million. The government has already earmarked funds in the region of $14 million.

When complete, the project will enable the people of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire to receive a regular distribution of drinking water and electricity. In total, more than a million people will benefit.

One of the project's major challenges concerns reforms in the water and electricity utilities. It will, however, fund urban infrastructure and help strengthen the capacities of the ministries in charge of those services, to better plan, coordinate and manage investments in order to optimize the use of national resources.

Rural development is also underway. Three Israeli companies, Ocomod Ltd, AB Construction and Era Optima, are involved in important projects, including the building of new agricultural villages, 1,000 accommodations in Kintl and the national land registration.

The country is also working at a local level to set up micro-hydroelectric plants that ensure an electricity supply to the rural areas of Congo.

The micro-hydro plants project specifically targets the use of water for electricity production including, among other sources, streams and waterfalls with a capacity of less than one megawatt.

Jean-Flix Issanga of the energy program office, United Nations Development Program, said "We will do everything to ensure that, throughout the country, the Congolese people have energy and water," he said.

The project will be developed with the support of the UNDP and the Global Environmental Facility.

An independent financial organization, the GEF provides grants to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for projects that benefit the global environment, linking local, national, and global environmental challenges and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

Since approving the Congo's micro-plant project, the GEF has obtained $2 million approved by the Board of Trustees.

Further investment to the tune of around $18 million is also currently being negotiated with relevant departments of the African Development Bank.

InFocus provided the story

(China Daily 06/29/2012 page7)