Water export: a too relevant issue for the transition

The natural resources trade has been turned into a political time bomb since it’s been used as an argument against the ruling power in the run of the year 2009’s putsch. Selling water abroad is theoretically an easy way to get money from usually uselesss commodities. The project was actually well underway under the Ravalomanana regime, then the AQUAMAR corporation stepped back in the run of the political putsch which upset the country in 2009.

The HAT water management ministry is taking over now: easy money in sight without a single invested penny from the state, what a bargain! Only the recovery of another partner, due to AQUAMAR’s defection in the run of the putsch, is theoretically remaining as a hurdle. Nirilanto Andriamahazo is moderating tensions. The new bilateral deal would only concern studies of such a project’s environmental consequences, and not yet the exportation project itself.

The environment commission led by the Malagasy green party’s numer two does not basically look thoroughly opposed to trading water. It outlined however that the transition is in no way entitled to sign any deal with any foreign company prior to any debate on the issue.  Sarah Georget Rabeharisoa and her team are calling upon more accurate studies of the exploitation’s environmental consequences. The superior council’s environmental commission is not to be a great help to the HAT, for appearing reluctant to allow any long term deal come into completion.

According to the commission, many more aspects are deserving investigation, namely the projects financial aspect. GRI corporation’s latest report does not publish any buying price at all. The previous studies proposed US$1.2 per 4.5 cubic meter of water. The Mananara river was expected to supply the pipeline to Toamasina with 4 cubic meter per second.

The northern rivers are theoretically able to provide the Malagasy State with some US$100,00 per day, 36.5 billions per year, at least, since logistical issues restricted the supply to a couple of shipping tankers per week. A couple of 350,000cubic meters tankers for 125 billions US$ are intended to be built by the contractor.

A second project is related to the Androka and Ambanizana rivers, both connected to the Maroantsetra in the isle’s north eastern part. In spite of the rivers’ relatively important output in this region, the exploitation would be restricted to 2 cubic meters per second, less than a tenth of what is being lost to the sea on a daily basis. Environmental risks like droughts might not be an issue there.

All of this water is anyway to be lost to the sea without any dam construction. The potentially exported water would be dedicated to agriculture and drinking water supplies in the Middle Orient. The country’s southern part is however chronically suffering from droughts. President Ravalomanana  basically settled the issue by intending to finance the construction of a pipeline in order to supply the south and the south east with water… theoretically.