Water, Nature and Humankind : Korea Water Resources Corporation

Topic of the Month

Cutting-Edge Water
Technology Reaches Africa

K-water wins a contract to build an
Total Water Management System in Botswana

The global water market is rapidly growing, and K-water has accumulated several years' expertise and experiences in water management overseas. Building on the combination of water technology and experiences, K-water is quickly emerging as an undisputed leader in water management. Recently, K-water has won a contract to build an Total Water Management System in Botswana, marking the first export of super-gap water management technology in Africa.

📝Text by. Editorial Team / 📷Photos by. K-water

Republic of Botswana
- Capital Gaborone Population 2.44 million (2022) Area 581,730㎢
- National Flag
  
  Sky blue is the color considered to be a symbol of rain, one of the most important resources in Botswana given its dry climate. The combination of black line and white lines indicates the harmony and cooperation among different ethnic groups.
- GDP USD 20.8 billion (2023, IMF)
  - Botswana is one of the world’s major diamond-producing countries. Diamond makes up 80% of all industrial exports.
  - Botswana is one of the world’s 25 most water-stressed countries listed by the World Resources Institute (WRI).

Botswana,
where water is more valuable than diamond

Located south of Africa, Botswana borders with Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Republic of South Africa. What makes Botswana shine is diamond. The diamond industry accounts for a considerable portion of the GDP of Botswana, the world’s No. 1 diamond producer.

Surprisingly, however, there is a resource that is considered more valuable than diamond. It is “water.” Botswana is one of the world’s most water-stressed countries. The country is 2.7 times larger than the Korean Peninsula, but 70% of the entire land is desert and the annual average rainfall is a mere 400mm. The water demand is increasing due to the diamond mining and refining process that requires enormous amounts of water, and the recent urbanization of the country. In this context, people in the country are voicing their concerns over the growing need for efficient water management policy to cope with the ever-growing water demand.

K-water
A Partner for Water Solutions in Botswana

After declaring efficient water management as the nation’s top priority, the government of Botswana has been investing a significant portion of its budget in securing water resources including construction of dams and water reuse. As part of such efforts, Botswana and K-water signed a contract worth approx. KRW 22.0 billion on February 14, 2025 to build an Total Water Management System. K-water has been working closely with Botswana on water management since 2017 through ODA, and the project gained fresh momentum following the high-level meeting between K-water president Yun Seog-dae and the Minister of Lands and Water Affairs of Botswana at COP28 in 2023. As a water management platform that incorporates the digital twin technology, K-water’s Total Water Management System allows users to design and implement effective water management policies based on a set of data including dam operations, levels of ground water, water quality, and leakage of ground water by region. Under the contract, 151 observation locations, a real-time monitoring system, and an Total water management monitoring center will be created to manage the basin of Limpopo River located in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. The project will be expanded nationwide, with super-gap technologies including digital twin to be integrated in phases.
With the introduction of super-gap water management technology under the project with K-water, Botswana is expected to utilize water resources more efficiently and build the foundation for sustainable economic development. Furthermore, it hopes to strengthen cooperation with K-water in water management including technological exchanges in order to enhance the national water security.

1 K-water president Yun Seog-dae and Botswana’s Minister of Lands and Water Affairs met during the COP28 Conference

Construction of an Total Water Management System in Botswana

Sluice gate data collection (151 locations)

The Land of Opportunities and a Bridgehead for Penetrating the African Market

The contract is meaningful since K-water has been designated as the sole contractor and the large-scale project has been financed 100% locally instead of ODA, indicating the recognition of the technology of K-water and its international status. It is also noteworthy that K-water has expanded its business partnership with Africa, a treasure trove of natural resources and an emerging hub of global economic growth. Building on the project as a cornerstone, K-water will step up its efforts to make forays into Africa, Middle East, and other emerging markets and to create a fresh growth momentum for the national economy.