Saudi Fund Commits USD 70 Million for Rivière-des-Anguilles Dam Project

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has allocated a substantial sum of USD 140 million (approximately Rs 6.2 billion) to Mauritius.

Half of this funding, USD70 million (Rs 3.1 billion), will go towards supporting the Rivière-des-Anguilles dam project.

The dam aims to protect against flooding and provide a dependable water source for various purposes, benefiting both the environment and the economy.

Additionally, the SFD’s contribution aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, specifically focusing on clean water and sanitation.

The SFD, in operation since 1975, has financed over 700 development projects valued at USD 18.7 billion (around Rs 833.1 billion) across 90 countries globally.

The Rivière-des-Anguilles project, reinvigorated in April, has incurred costs of Rs 230.4 million for land acquisition and consultancy fees.

However, the budget has increased over time, from an initial estimate of Rs 2.5 billion in 2009 to Rs 9.4 billion in the government’s 2021/22 budget.

This project involves constructing a 2-km-long dam standing at 55 meters in height, addressing significant water supply challenges in the South and a substantial portion of the Southwest coast.

Source: Defi Media