Mozambique: 10,000 prepaid water meters to be installed this year – Noticias

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Mozambique: 10,000 prepaid water meters to be installed this year – Noticias

6:02 CAT | 22 Jun 2021

Picture: Noticias

At least 10,000 prepaid water meters will be installed this year in cities and towns across the country, in an effort to improve the sector’s operational performance.

Of the total number, 5,000 will be installed in the Greater Maputo area, comprising the cities of Maputo and Matola, and the towns of Boane and Marracuene.

According to Stélio Chire, director of Central Planning and Development Services at the Water Supply Investment and Heritage Fund (FIPAG), the rest of the meters will be installed in other parts of the country.

Stélio Chire told ‘Notícias’ that the meter replacement programme was essential for containing commercial losses arising from non-invoicing and non-payment, as well as recovering amounts owed.

The gradual change of the payment system for public network water follows the pilot phase implemented between 2019 and 2020, during which just over 6,000 water meters were installed in 13 cities across the country.

Around 16,000 of the just over 510,000 FIPAG customers should be on the prepaid system by the end of this year or the beginning of next, a number that will gradually increase as the replacement of devices progresses.

Alongside this work, FIPAG is evaluating the pilot phase to draw lessons to enhance the success of the project.

Last week, the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, João Machatine, recommended speeding up the installation of prepaid water meters.

Source: Noticias