Borealis supports Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP) in improving access to safe drinking water to the communities in Beira, Mozambique

An ongoing water infrastructure programme in Beira, Mozambique, has made significant progress in improving an existing water network and making it more resilient to the effects of climate change. Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming urban areas by enabling access to clean water and sanitation, is implementing this project as one integral component of a wider programme across the country. Water for the World, a joint programme launched in 2017 by Borealis and Borouge, co-sponsors the programme in the city of Beira.

Water supply in Beira has long been inadequate: water pressure is insufficient and supply is intermittent, especially in the poorest neighbourhoods. The problem was exacerbated by a catastrophic cyclone in 2019, which destroyed thousands of homes and cut many Beira residents off from the water supply altogether. As the severity of weather events increases due to climate change, efforts to improve water infrastructure are being accelerated.

Borealis supported the programme financially as well as through providing high quality BorSafe™ HDPE100 material for the production of the water infrastructure pipes which were manufactured in Mozambique by Borealis customer Politejo.

Despite disruptions caused by a cyclone in January and other severe weather events and despite Covid pandemic, substantial progress has been made already. The installation of the BorSafe™ HDPE100 water pipes have progressed and a major water tower and its waterworks are also being rehabilitated. Once installed, the tower’s new pump will make it possible to draw more water more powerfully from ground reservoirs in order to deliver it to those who need it most: the residents of the Maraza and Chota bairros, and their neighbourhoods.

In total, around 35-40 km pipe network will be installed, providing approximately 25,000 people with reliable, safe drinking water supply. The project is estimated to be finalised and handed over to the local water utility service provider FIPAG in the course of 2022.

Watch the WSUP video to learn more about the Beira project here.