In June 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that officials of the Erongo region in Namibia again wanted to purchase the local desalination plant owned by French group Areva, whose price had long been disputed. The region also planned a further plant of 70,000 m³/day. In November 2016 the water ministry had sought KfW funding for a feasibility study. Three years of drought had strained local aquifers. On 22 June 2017 governor Cleophas Mutjavikua presented the new Erongo Water Forum, which was to set up a regional utility.
The report showed how persistent drought pushed a region with industry, farming and households towards desalination. Ownership and price of an existing plant became a political issue.