Desalination in Somaliland

Uusmiir · May 6, 2022, 2:19pm

http://afsiasolar.com/desalination-project-in-somaliland/

Desalination Project in Somaliland

Aptech Africa recently commissioned a solar powered reverse osmosis water treatment plant in Caynabo, Somaliland. This project was funded by UNDP and used a reverse osmosis system supplied by Genius Water.

The system has a nominal flow is 6m3/s. The flexotank capacity is 45m3/s which can fill at least 4 trucks daily, while four distribution taps are operational. The photovoltaic power supply is 41.08kWp. The water is extracted by pumps through piping to the hydraulic container. A series of valves were also installed to insure right operation of the pump.

The site for this project was site was selected because of its nearness to the well and because of its location at the center of Caynabo. Trucks come to pick water, and there are water troughs for the camels, so the local authorities helped to select the site.
3b3ef0f5-f1f4-4026-ad88-c5bc81d8596c-3

Before the system was installed, the Ministry of Water Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed, reported that people suffered poor hygiene because of lack of clean drinking water, but now thanks to this system, people don’t need to travel a long distance to get water. This facility serves the total population of Caynabo with about 7000 people, as well as around 3000 people from neighboring villages”.

Before the system was installed, the Ministry of Water Project Coordinator, Mr. Abdullahi Mohammed, reported that people used to suffer from kidney stones as a result of not taking enough water because most households could not access even 5 liters of water per day. It was also very expensive to buy drinking water for the whole family with bottled water costing $0.45 per liter. Prior to the system, people had to drive to Burco town which is about 130km away from Caynabo. This is too expensive for some so they resorted to drinking the well water that has a high saline level and is not safe for drinking.

864cafcf-647a-46e7-a979-24a80b544ea8-4

There is a water crisis in Caynabo and the Sahara region at large, Thanks to Aptech Africa’s team, those living in Caynabo and around are now able to access clean and safe drinking water from the plant on a daily basis.

Uusmiir · June 18, 2022, 8:48am

Uusmiir · July 8, 2026, 12:19pm

Somaliland Launches First Seawater Desalination Plant in Zeila to Tackle Water Scarcity

Republic of Somaliland has announced plans to establish its first-ever seawater desalination plant in the coastal city of Zeila, marking a major step toward improving access to clean and reliable water in the country.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Water Development, Mohamed Abdimalik Ahmed, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. He said President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) had decided that Zeila would host Somaliland’s first seawater desalination facility.

“The President has decided that the first seawater desalination plant will be established in Zeila,” the minister said during the ceremony.

Minister Ahmed emphasized that the initiative would move swiftly beyond the groundbreaking stage, with construction expected to begin promptly. Once completed, the plant is expected to provide the residents of Zeila with a dependable supply of clean, safe drinking water, helping to address the area’s long-standing water challenges.

He added that the project forms part of a broader national strategy by the Ministry of Water Development to expand seawater desalination technology to other regions of Somaliland. Priority will be given to communities experiencing chronic water shortages and harsh climatic conditions, with the goal of ensuring sustainable access to clean water across the country.

The Zeila desalination project represents a significant milestone in Somaliland’s efforts to strengthen water security, improve public health, and build resilience against recurring droughts and increasing water demand.