Va Tech Wabag (Wabag) has secured a €78m ($82m) contract for wastewater treatment plants in Zambia from Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC), which is funded by the European Investment Bank and Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau.

The design, build and operate (DBO) contract involves engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of two wastewater treatment plants in Ngwerere and Chunga in Zambia.

The plants have capacities of 54 megalitres per day (MLD) and 19MLD, respectively. The EPC phase will last 36 months, followed by 24 months of operation and maintenance.

Wabag aims to meet most of the energy needs for the plants through sustainable sources, using biogas and solar power.

This project is part of Wabag’s strategy to provide comprehensive water solutions in Africa.

Wabag sales and marketing (Africa) head Guhan Kandasamy said: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to LWSC for their confidence in Wabag to deliver one of Zambia’s largest and most advanced sanitation projects in the recent decades.

“Through this project, Wabag is proud to contribute significantly to the Zambian government’s mission to enhance water and sanitation infrastructure, positively impacting countless lives.”

Wabag has designed and built over 1,500 water and wastewater treatment plants worldwide in the last 30 years. The company operates in more than 25 countries.

In May this year, Wabag introduced "BLUE SEED," an initiative aimed at driving innovation and supporting start-ups in the water sector.  This programme seeks to identify and invest in early-stage water technology ventures with growth potential.

By offering funding, resources, and guidance, Wabag aims to empower these "Waterpreneurs" to develop sustainable solutions for a secure water future.