Introducing bore hole drilling technology Note: This project has been cancelled, because of the disturbed relationship between the project partners.The project will establish an independent bore hole drilling company capable of drilling some 100 to 200 bores for drinking water annually.Access to safe drinking water in Burundi is still very problematic today. Whereas other countries in the sub-region have successfully improved their drinking water supply, Burundi is lagging behind with 64% of the population having access to potable drinking water. Numerous programmes are initiated by international organisations and NGOs, but local borehole drilling capacity is so far not yet available. All borehole expertise and services today are imported from abroad (Kenya, Uganda, Europe, Asia etc) resulting in high prices and long delivery times. In addition to the water sector there is an upcoming demand for drilling services and expertise in construction, infrastructure, mining and geotechnical studies.The partners will establish a joint venture and invest in one mobile drilling unit. It will recruit 68 new employees, provide training both to employees and to contractors and clients in the value chain. After an initial PSIP assisted pilot, there are many opportunities for follow-up investments: both for up-scaling the borehole drilling capacity and for diversifying the portfolio of services and works.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)Both partners have a written CSR policy. Development of a CSR policy based on those of the partners will be in the core of the project. It will include:• The drilling unit will be designed according to international health, safety and environmental rules and regulations.• Prior to construction of the site an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment will be conducted.• An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be conducted before each drilling project and data will be collected that can contribute to hydrological mapping.• All (sub) contractors will have to show their policy on working conditions, environment protection and abstinence of child labour and forced labour.• A detailed health and safety programme will be developed.• The joint venture will provide an extensive programme of fringe benefits to its employees.The applicant Vergnet is ISO 9002 certified. A Pre-Audit for ISO 9002 will be included.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsAt the end of the PSIP project the joint venture will employ 68 FTE of which nine at high-level, 29 medium-level and 30 basic-level.The local partner PFC will transfer its present field staff of four drillers (one high- and three medium-level) and sixteen workers to the joint venture and therefore the additional employment created will be 48 FTE.Two years after completion of the PSIP phase the company expects to employ 120 FTE.The employees will all be on contracts and be paid at minimally 15% above average wage level in the sector.The joint venture will be offering the following set of fringe benefits to employees:- a pension scheme;- reimbursement of health expenses;- free transport to and from work;- if necessary temporary housing on location;- a year-end bonus scheme, interest free credits for educational or family purposes;- lunch expenses reimbursement;- education (both for employees and for their family members);- HIV sensibilisation;- premium for social security insurance as legally required.For field staff additional benefits will include free food, separation fee, free transport and free lodging.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe project introduces and transfers technical skills and technologies that are new for the country:- Operation and maintenance of drilling equipment (basic and advanced).- Drinking water sourcing from depths of more than 100 metres.- Geophysical research knowledge.- How to run a water borehole drilling business.- Using advanced drilling techniques in construction, infrastructure and mining.- Quality management, environment, health & safety management.•	Chain effectsThe project will have positive chain effects both for suppliers of inputs (spares, consumables and logistics) and maintenance services as well as for customers through lower price levels and increased availability of drilling services. An estimated total of 6 companies are expected to benefit long term.•	EnvironmentThe project may be expected to have a positive impact on the environment:- The project makes the use of water bore holes accessible for more Burundians. So people have to make less use of polluting alternatives like bottled water or purifying surface water.- Bore hole drilling techniques have substantially less impact on the environment than digging and driving techniques.- The project will boost new drilling and water pumping methods that enable Burundi to pump water from deeper reservoirs with substantial environmental benefits. The water pumping methods currently applied cause soil dehydration and – as a consequence – damages the environment and biodiversity.- An EIA will be conducted before each drilling project and data will be collected that can contribute to hydrological mapping.•	Position of womenThe activities of the project will have a positive impact on the position of women as a result of improved (rural) water supply that will alleviate the burden of women in fetching water and contribute to improved health. Establishment of a local borehole drilling company (one drilling unit) with a capacity of 100 to 200 boreholes per annum and development of local expertise through training of 68 staff.