Baran Company to Build 2,000 km National Water Pipeline in Africa
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Israeli infrastructure company Baran will build a 2,000 km national water pipeline in an unnamed African country, likely Botswana, to bring water from the Chobe River to arid regions. The first 110 km phase, costing $480 million, is expected to take 24-30 months. The project aims to boost economic and agricultural development and follows a recent cancellation and reversal of the deal. The full pipeline is projected to take over a decade to construct.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli company Baran will construct a 2,000 km national water pipeline in an African nation.
- The project aims to supply water from the Chobe River to arid regions for development.
- The first phase involves a 110 km segment costing approximately $480 million.
- Baran will build local factories for cement and pipes to reduce import costs.
- The first phase is expected to be completed in 24-30 months, with the full project taking over a decade.
- The deal was recently reinstated after an initial cancellation that impacted Baran's stock.
Israeli infrastructure company Baran announced on Thursday, November 5, that it has signed an agreement for the first phase of a major African project. The project involves constructing a national water pipeline approximately 2,000 km long in an unnamed African country, designed to transport water from the Chobe River to arid regions suffering from water scarcity. The primary objective is to foster economic and agricultural development in these areas. While the country was not explicitly named, the project's description aligns with Botswana's plans to transfer water from the Chobe-Zambezi river system to its dry southern regions. The Chobe River flows through several African nations that have agreements for its water allocation. The country selected for this project currently underutilizes its water quota due to a lack of infrastructure for water transfer. The overall project is divided into seven sections. Baran's contract for the first phase covers an 110 km segment, valued at approximately $480 million, and includes securing financing, which the company states is already in place. Water will be delivered through a system of pipelines and tunnels. Baran will be responsible for building a large water intake facility on the river, pumping stations along the route, and reservoirs. To mitigate the economic inefficiency of importing large quantities of construction materials, Baran will establish local factories for cement and pipe production near the project site. The first phase is slated for completion within 24 to 30 months, though Baran cautions that contracts for subsequent phases are not guaranteed. The entire pipeline is estimated to take over a decade to complete. This agreement follows a period of significant disruption; a memorandum of understanding was initially signed in 2025, but about a week prior to the announcement, Baran informed the stock exchange of a deal cancellation, causing its shares to drop by 14%. Last week, company representatives met with government officials of the country, which subsequently reversed its decision to cancel the project.