The fokontany of Maroafo has been selected as the testing site for seawater desalination technology developed by the Chinese company Jiangsu Bangtec Huachuang Sci-Tech Co., Ltd. Located in the commune of Antaritarika, in the Androy region, this site will host the technical feasibility study for seawater desalination in Madagascar, as outlined in an agreement signed on Saturday, September 26, at Iavoloha. The desalination unit will be installed and tested to verify whether the technology can meet the local population’s water needs under local conditions.
The first supply of fresh water is expected within two and a half months. “According to them, there should be drinking water in the Maroafo fokontany in two and a half months,” stated Colonel Thierry Rampanarivo, High Councilor of the Refoundation, who visited the site on Monday. According to the official, the Maroafo installation will allow for the verification of the device’s performance, operating conditions, and its adaptation to local realities.
As this is an experimental phase, any potential expansion to other localities will only be considered after the technology has proven its effectiveness. “We know the technology works, but since we will be paying for its deployment in other regions, we will verify that it works before making any payments,” Colonel Rampanarivo clarified. “If it doesn’t work, we won’t pay,” he added, implying that the widespread rollout of the technology would be state-funded.
The High Councilor noted that he personally traveled to China to secure this desalination technology. According to the company, the system combines solar energy, battery storage, and desalination. Photovoltaic panels generate electricity, batteries store and regulate it, and the desalination unit operates autonomously, independent of the power grid.
In a statement, the company indicated that it has developed compact units that can be transported in containers and are adapted to marine environments. At full capacity, a single unit could produce up to 250 tons of fresh water per day. The equipment is designed for prolonged operation in corrosive marine environments, with an expected service life of eight to ten years. The Chinese company plans to send a technical team of five to assist with the installation and train local technicians, with the experimental unit arriving in a 40-foot container.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-30 14:38:35 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.2424.mg/etude-de-faisabilite-une-installation-experimentale-de-dessalement-deau-de-mer-attendue-a-maroafo-androy-dans-deux-mois-et-demi/
