Water export project: Nirhy Lanto Andriamahazo stalls

Nirhy Lanto Andriamahazo inherited a young department that didn’t reveal its entire stake yet. Entered in the government of Monja Roindefo,  Andry Rajoelina’s former right hand risks today to provide a burning file to the authority of transition. The water sale project to a Saudi company struggles to go forward. 

And yet, the minister of water doesn’t lack arguments. to reassure the defenders of the environmental cause, Nirhy Lanto Andriamahazo recalls that such a project must have the national Office of the environment’s agreement, institution assigned to assess potential negative impact on the ecosystem. 

The withdrawal of this water in very large quantity will be done close to the river’s mouth before it reaches the sea. There would therefore not be a risk to compromise the usual use of water as for agriculture or for populations’ supply. 

On the Faraony river, 1% of water that flows in the sea will be redirected, then collected for export. It represents 260 000 m3 per day. The ministry foresees a sale on the whole, to the contrary of the detailed sale of bottled water. It counts on a 60 000 dollars income per day, according to the global prices. “All can happen very quickly because the Saudi operator is already in the country “, replied the minister of water. He noticed however” that no decision has been taken yet “. 

Water is therefore a nugget business. Nirhy Lanto Andriamahazo however struggles to convince. The money will be used for the Madagascan population, he insisted. “It is water about to get lost in the sea which turns into cash “, said the minister, adding that it especially allows to finance drinking water introduction projects in arid zones in the southern part of the country. 

“It is a project that has already been in discussion before – which means in 2008 – but few people know it “, added the minister of water. Nirhy Lanto Andriamahazo clears himself thus from the initiative taken by his predecessor. The project meets quite a lot of opposition. In the south-eastern region, about fifteen towns launched a petition against water sale to foreigners. 

Here comes a file that risks to put the government of transition quite ill at ease. Andry Rajoelina made the lease contract asked by Daewoo Logistics his favourite topic to oust the elected president, accusing this last of selling the ancestors’ lands. 

Today, water sale to foreigners is considered by some as a sacrilege. Others worry about the closeness of the Rajoelina regime with the rich Saudi while moving away of the usual partner institutions and countries.