Product Description: A pump is a mechanism through which an external source of power is used to apply a force to a liquid. A pump develops no power of its own. Its purpose is simply to transfer energy form a source of power to move a fluid. For example, an electric motor may apply power to a water pump, which may take water available for use either by direct transfer or by storage. It may be raised to a higher level for gravity flow or pumped into a pressure tank against a cushion of air, which is compressed either to produce or store energy for withdrawal of water when needed at the point of use.
Rationale: Water pump is assembled for moving water form one location to another, especially from lower places to higher places by using tubes or other machines. Access to potable water in Ethiopia is very limited, particularly in rural and small urban areas. Even in big cities such as Addis Ababa and Bahir dar, only a portion of the population has access to protected or potable water. According to the 1994 population and Housing Census, only 2.7% of the rural housing units of the Amhara Region have access to tap water, and only 12.54% of the housing units have access to protected well/ spring water, while 70% of the urban housing units (that of big cities and towns) have access to tap water and 10.4% have access to protected will/spring water. In some small towns and some rural areas water pumps are assembled to distribute protected drinkable water from wells or springs to users in very limited areas. Even in the big cities, there are housing units that have no access to pumped water and are forced to use unprotected water from lakes, rivers, etc. Hence, there is a good ground to encourage investors to involve in the assembly of water pumps to make more people have access to potable water.
Market Potential: As indicated above there is a potential demand for protected/ drinkable water supply in many parts of the Amhara region, particularly in rural and small urban areas where majority of the people live. Even in the big cities there are places that have no access to potable water. Hence, there is a strong need for water pump.
Source of raw Materials: All pumps and accessories required for the water pumps are imported from abroad, mainly from France, Japan, Italy and they can be obtained form the importers.
Production Process and Technology: The pump is initially primed in the suction pipe, casing a portion of the delivery pipe up to the delivery valve and completely filled with the liquid (water) to be pumped. Rapid motion imported to the impeller then builds up a centrifugal force, which throws the liquid towards the impeller periphery. This causes pressure gradient in the suction pipe, i.e. a partial vacuum exists at the impeller eye while the liquid in the pump is at a two atmospheric pressure. Consequently, liquid form the pump is sucked in towards the impeller eye. When the liquid passes through the impeller, it receives energy that results in the growth of both pressure and velocity. The casing collects the liquid form the impeller and guides it to the delivery pipe. Since the casing increases in cross-sectional area towards the delivery of kinetic head represented by the higher discharge velocity is spatially transformed into pressure head before the liquid leaves the pump. The process is continued as long as motion is given to the impeller and there is a supply of liquid to be drawn up on.
Estimated Investment Cost: The establishment of the plant will require a minimum area of 1000m2 the estimated cost of which will be Birr 250,000. Machinery and equipment cost will be about Birr 2,500,000. Therefore, the estimated total investment cost will be about Birr 2,750,000.
Benefits: The establishment of the plant will enable the pople of the Region to have access to protected drinkable water by means of pumps. There will benefits to those who are involved in the assembly of the water pumps. It may encourage investors in other sectors who will need sufficient water supply for their work. It will create employment opportunity in the Region.
Location: Bahir Dar, Gondar, Dessie