The Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) has secured a 22.7 billion won ($15.7 million) contract with Botswana’s Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs to develop and manage a comprehensive water management system, reports The Korea Herald.
The project aims to tackle Botswana’s chronic water scarcity, worsened by climate change, prolonged droughts, and shifting rainfall patterns. Focusing on the Limpopo River near the capital, Gaborone, K-water will implement a remote sensing and real-time monitoring system over the next three years, alongside establishing a dedicated control room near the river.
With water security a growing concern across Africa, Botswana has prioritized national water resource management. Minister of Lands and Water Affairs Oneetse Ramogapi emphasized the project’s importance, stating, “As water security becomes crucial for sustaining economic growth, K-water’s technology is expected to help alleviate Botswana’s water crisis.”
K-water has collaborated with Botswana since 2017, conducting feasibility studies and developing a master plan. The partnership gained momentum at COP28 in December 2023, following discussions between K-water CEO Yun Seog-dae and Botswana’s former Lands and Water Affairs Minister Kefentse Mzwandile, leading to K-water’s designation as the sole contractor.
CEO Yun called the contract a “significant milestone” as K-water’s first export of its water management technology to Africa. “This not only advances our company but also opens doors for broader economic cooperation with other African partners.”
The initiative is set to enhance Botswana’s water resilience and ensure sustainable management of its critical water resources.