Kavango regions get additional solar powered boreholes

Oil and gas exploration company ReconAfrica has so far drilled and installed 36 solar-powered water wells in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions at the tune of N$21 million. This includes 10 additional community water wells handed over on Saturday, with both regions receiving five additional boreholes each.

During the handover at Tjeya village, Sambyu Traditional Authority hompa Sophia Mundjembe applauded the company for the gesture, saying that bringing potable water closer to the people at Tjeye will reduce human-wildlife conflict. She said people will have access to clean, healthy water, eliminating the need to go to the river to collect water for household use.

Kapembe village headman Oiva Muronga said people will no longer have to travel long distances to collect water after the village has gone without potable water since it was established 27 years ago.

ReconAfrica’s new president and chief executive Brian Reinborough said it is disheartening to hear that people in the region die of crocodile attacks due to human-wildlife conflict, because they depend on the river for water.

“Hearing stories like that of a seven-year-old girl falling victim to a crocodile attack is absolutely shattering. It gives me great pleasure to note that the decision to drill community water wells was also informed through community engagement and consultation with relevant authorities. This helped the company in truly identifying and confirming that safe and secure access to potable water is a great need for the region,” said Reinborough.

ReconAfrica is a subsidiary of Reconnaissance Energy Africa, a Canadian oil and gas exploration company exploring for oil and gas in the Kavango regions and Botswana.

The company has been in the media for its oil and gas exploration activities in the region, with environmental activists voicing concern about the impact this will have on water quality in the relatively water-scarce regions.