Key Takeaways
- • Norfund commits R160 million investment in Nafasi Water Technologies, a South African integrated water infrastructure developer and contractor serving mining and public sectors across Southern Africa.
- • Investment partners with existing shareholder E Squared Investments to establish a sustainable platform addressing mining-affected catchment rehabilitation, municipal water reuse, and advanced water-reclamation technologies.
- • Nafasi operates large-scale water treatment facilities including seawater desalination projects such as the Erongo Desalination Project in Namibia, with capability to recover useful chemicals from treatment process byproducts.
- • Strategic focus targets public-private partnership opportunities in wastewater treatment and reuse alongside existing project-financed solutions for mining-impacted water rehabilitation.
- • Investment addresses critical water security challenges in Southern Africa while generating skilled technical employment in the region.
Summary
Norfund, the Norwegian development finance institution, has committed R160 million to Nafasi Water Technologies, a South African water infrastructure company specializing in integrated development and contracting services across Southern Africa's mining and public sectors. The investment, structured alongside existing shareholder E Squared Investments, establishes a sustainable platform designed to tackle multiple water management priorities: mining-affected catchment rehabilitation, municipal water reuse systems, and advanced water-reclamation technologies.
Nafasi Water Technologies operates as a full-service water solutions provider, developing, financing, building, and operating water treatment facilities for industrial and public clients. The company's project portfolio includes large-scale seawater desalination infrastructure, notably the Erongo Desalination Project in Namibia. The firm has demonstrated operational success deploying project-financed solutions for long-duration, mining-impacted water rehabilitation initiatives, positioning the company to expand into public-private partnership opportunities in wastewater treatment and reuse markets.
According to Carl Johan Wahlund, Senior Vice President for Green Infrastructure at Norfund, the investment reflects the institution's commitment to preventing polluted water contamination of rivers and communities while developing commercially viable solutions to South Africa's water security challenges. Suzie Nkambule, CEO of Nafasi Water, characterized the partnership as a natural progression in the company's strategy, enabling active participation in municipal wastewater treatment and reuse bids across the region.
The investment incorporates Nafasi's proprietary technology capability to recover useful chemicals from sludge and effluent residues generated during water treatment processes, supporting circular economy principles. Beyond infrastructure development, the partnership is positioned to generate high-value technical employment opportunities in Southern Africa's water management sector, addressing both environmental recovery and workforce development objectives in a region facing significant water security pressures.
Nafasi Water Technologies operates as a full-service water solutions provider, developing, financing, building, and operating water treatment facilities for industrial and public clients. The company's project portfolio includes large-scale seawater desalination infrastructure, notably the Erongo Desalination Project in Namibia. The firm has demonstrated operational success deploying project-financed solutions for long-duration, mining-impacted water rehabilitation initiatives, positioning the company to expand into public-private partnership opportunities in wastewater treatment and reuse markets.
According to Carl Johan Wahlund, Senior Vice President for Green Infrastructure at Norfund, the investment reflects the institution's commitment to preventing polluted water contamination of rivers and communities while developing commercially viable solutions to South Africa's water security challenges. Suzie Nkambule, CEO of Nafasi Water, characterized the partnership as a natural progression in the company's strategy, enabling active participation in municipal wastewater treatment and reuse bids across the region.
The investment incorporates Nafasi's proprietary technology capability to recover useful chemicals from sludge and effluent residues generated during water treatment processes, supporting circular economy principles. Beyond infrastructure development, the partnership is positioned to generate high-value technical employment opportunities in Southern Africa's water management sector, addressing both environmental recovery and workforce development objectives in a region facing significant water security pressures.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.