Applicability and Constraints of Delivering Water Infrastructure Via Public Private Partnership

PurposeThe demand for water in the central coastal mining area of Namibia has been increasing in recent years and the public utility company responsible for bulk water supply is battling to keep pace. The study investigated whether the idea of developing a desalination plant had buy-in from stakeholders and whether they perceived Private Public Partnership (PPP) as an applicable approach to deliver the project.MethodologyThe approach involved a review of literature followed up by a survey which utilised self- administered questionnaires to collect data from 70 respondents from government, Public Utility Company and a number of water and mining consulting firms.FindingsFindings confirm the inadequacy of water sources to cater for the current and future mines’ demand and to ensure long-term access to bulk water supply, the majority of respondents agree that developing a desalination plant would provide an alternative solution. However, majority of respondents indicate that to date, their institutions do not allocate sufficient budget towards new water infrastructure development and maintenance for the mines and therefore PPP would be an appropriate mechanism to develop the desalination facility.Research limitationsThese include that PPP is a relatively new concept in Namibia especially in the water sector and a lack of representation from the local authority in the study.Value of the PaperThe study forms a basis to explore strategies and measures that could be put in place to facilitate the implementation of PPP as an alternative procurement route in the Namibian water sector to develop infrastructure to serve particularly the central coastal mining area.ConclusionThere is a need to develop new water infrastructure to meet the increasing demand in the central coastal Namibian mining area and alternative project delivery options must be explored.