2.6 million People currently supplied against 1.3 million in 2005

On June 2 2015, the Managing Director of the Société Nationale des Eaux du Benin (Benin National Water Company) (SONEB) met the members of the Government during the Council of Ministers. Mr. David Babalola went to explain the Head of State the current situation of the drinking water supply in the Benin urban environment regarding the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), as well as the prospects under consideration after December 2015, the deadline set by the UNO for the achievement of the MDGs. According to the presentation of SONEB Managing Director relating to the statement on the national system for drinking water supply in the cities of the country, Benin has achieved remarkable progress as regards drinkable water provision in urban environment over the last years.

So, as shown by Mr. Babalola, in 2006, approximately 1.2 million people in urban environment were supplied with drinking water from SONEB, that is to say a rate of 48% service in 2006. Eight (8) years later, on December 31st, 2014, the situation clearly improved in the country’s urban environment, moving to 2.6 million served people, that is to say a rate of 72% service. According to David Babalola, this outstanding performance was possible thanks to the impulse given by the Government of Dr. Yayi Boni to the drinking water related sector. Indeed, the manager of the company in charge of drinking water supply in the Benin urban environment explained that the investments carried out by the government since 2006 in the water sub-sector in general and the urban environment supplying system in particular made it possible for SONEB to initiate and implement projects relating to infrastructures modernization and reinforcement, which impact on the populations make it possible for Benin to catch up with several years of delay. The total amount of mobilized resources was of 83 billion CFA francs in that time, including more than 73% from the technical and financial partners (TFP). Today, according to SONEB MD, the production capacity of his company is about 45 million cubic meters of water per year for 205,000 subscribers. In 2005, this capacity was limited to 25 million cubic meters of water for 103,000 subscribers. Still according to SONEB Managing Director, the company’s network has largely developed from 2006 to 2014, moving from 3,500 km in 2006 to 5,435 km in 2014. Mr. Babalola ensured that efforts were also made to reduce water losses. The level of losses was limited to 23% in 2014 against 35% ten years ago. Even better, with regard to the modernization policy relating to his management, SONEB MD explained that the company has acquired a remote processing system of its network, making it possible to keep an eye and have in real-time, information on the production and transport of drinking water. “From our headoffice, we can control the supplying system in all the city of Cotonou” said Mr. Babalola.

He reassured the government on the good prospects of the water sub-sector with the launching, in the weeks to come, of phase III of the Project relating to the strengthening of drinking water supply system in the city of Cotonou and its neighbourhoods. The overall cost of this project is about 23 billion CFA francs with the object to satisfy by the year 2025 at a rate of 90% service the requirements regarding drinking water for the populations of Cotonou, Abomey-Calavi, Sèmè-Kpodji as well as the neighbouring cities. “In December 2015, we are sure to exceed the Millennium Development Goals”, Mr David Babalola assured.