“The water is so sweet and clean,” Sani, a resident of Maquela do Zombo City in Angola, beamed with happiness as he turned on the tap at home.
The water-supply project, built and maintained by China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd., (Energy China), is key to local people’s livelihoods in Maquela do Zombo. The tube network, spanning 11 kilometers, delivers over 3,000 tons of clean spring water to more than 40,000 households each day. With advanced technology, Energy China overcame challenges such as waterlogged ground. The project ended the era when residents had to fetch and consume unclean water, serving as a proven Chinese solution for addressing water supply challenges in other cities.
Cracking the Mud
In 2022, when the construction team arrived in the city, the site became a mire due to eight consecutive months of rainfall. In the clay-rich area where the main tube had to be laid, excavators frequently became trapped, reducing the digging efficiency by more than half. Each day at 6 a.m., a dedicated weather specialist would assess conditions and accurately forecast the rain. Small and interval workloads were still assigned to builders during light rainfalls. This strategy ensured steady advancement despite the weather, avoiding major delays.
Seeing Chinese engineers spending entire days working in the rain, even having their meals crouched in the mud, the Angola site manager voluntarily mobilized local workers to join them in emergency response.
Great Chinese Solution
The initial project design fully relied on diesel generators for power. But engineers found that this approach was inadequate to meet the needs of the high-power machines. Also, the fuel cost was very expensive, and it was impossible to provide a stable 24-hour water supply for local residents.
To address these issues, the project department immediately established a specialized team for technological breakthrough. They put together a power supply switching logic prioritizing grid electricity while keeping diesel generators on standby as backup. During the most critical test, team members remained on duty in the pump house for 72 consecutive hours, continuously monitoring real-time changes in current and voltage. When grid power was disconnected in the simulation, the system automatically started the diesel generators, thereby achieving a smooth switch that could ensure the stable operation of water pump.
Doubling Income
On August 28, 2025, the project was completed and delivered. It comprehensively improved the local livelihood. Residents bid farewell to the era of fetching and drinking unclean water, saving an average of two hours per day on water collection. Water that meets World Health Organization standards reduces 30 percent of local waterborne diseases. The stable water supply also spurs the development of food processing factories and small-sized farms, boosting the economic growth.
“In the past, we could only rely on rainwater for irrigation, and the harvest was very unstable. Now we have tap water. Vegetable yield has increased by 20 percent and we can grow off‑season crops. Our incomes have doubled,” said local farmer Rosa, her joy evident.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
