Vol 3, Issue 7 (July 2002)

Analysis

  • A word from the Editor

    Welcome to July’s Global Water Intelligence. Middle East news dominates this month. Jordan’s Minister of Water & Irrigation announced his government’s intention to invest up to $2.5 billion on water projects at a conference in London last month.

General

  • Ajman wastewater concession update

    There is still no word on the consortium of lenders who will provide the necessary debt finance for the Ajman wastewater concession. Project sponsors Thames Water and Black & Veatch had hoped to make an announcement at the end of June with a view to achieving financial close in August.

  • Caern gains concession for Natal

    THE CITY OF NATAL, state capital of Rio Grande do Norte in the north east of Brazil, has awarded a 25-year water and wastewater concession to the state water company, Companhia de Águas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte (Caern).

  • Dawasa lease remains on course

    The deadline for technical and financial bids for the Dar es Salaam lease contract has been moved to 15 July.

  • Japan edges towards PSP

    Private participation in Japan’s water industry has been limited to date. However, the considerable financial strain on the sector has led to a series of reforms paving the way for municipal reorganisation and likely future PFI work for international private water companies.

  • Jordan unveils investment plans

    The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) is developing a number of PSP initiatives, including management contracts for the country’s Northern Governorates and Middle Governorates, and a possible BOT scheme for a desalination plant at Aqaba. Projects were outlined at a MEED water conference held in London last month.

  • Saudis move ahead with water and power plans

    Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Economic Council has approved government guidelines for private sector participation in large desalination plants. The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) and Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) have agreed to request bids jointly and a new government company – jointly owned by both – will be the off-taker for both power and water.

  • Two bid for Algerian desal plant

    ONLY TWO BIDS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED for a contract to build a new joint venture desalination plant at Hamma, a suburb of the Algerian capital, Algiers (see GWI, Vol. 3, Issue 4, p.11). Eight companies and groups had purchased tender documents.

Companies

  • Aquamundo signs letter of intent for China JV

    AQUAMUNDO HAS SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT to set up a joint venture for water supply and wastewater services in the Chinese city of Foshan (see GWI, Vol. 3, Issue 6, p.7).

  • AWS financing update

    AWG will raise debt within Anglian Water Services to a nominal 85% of its £3.8 billion RAV. The ring-fenced utility’s business will then be put out to competitive tender by 2004/05 but no company – AWG included – can win more than 50% of the work.

  • Gelsenwasser to expand operations

    E.ON SUBSIDIARY GELSENWASSER IS MAKING a concerted effort to expand its activities to counter falling water sales in its core area in the inland German state of North Rhine Westfalia.

  • New JBIC loan for Sabesp

    SÃO PAULO STATE WATER COMPANY, Companhia de Saneamento Básico de São Paulo (Sabesp) received a $150 million loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) last month.

  • Ondeo takes over Azurix’s Mexican contracts

    Ondeo has taken over five Azurix contracts in Mexico worth a total of $70 million in annual revenues.

  • Restructuring a water company

    AWG is now split into six component parts. The ring-fenced UK water and wastewater business – AWS – provides services to five million customers in eastern England and Hartlepool.

  • The changing role of a water company

    Anglian Water International, the international services division of the newly restructured AWG, was awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise earlier this year. On the occasion of the presentation of the award by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Peter Allison talked to the managing director of AWG’s infrastructure business, Tony Eckford, about the group’s reorganisation and new capital structure.

  • Vivendi cuts stake in VE

    VIVENDI UNIVERSAL HAS COMPLETED the sale of a 15.6% stake in Vivendi Environnement (VE). The sale, which raised around €1.7 billion, reduced Vivendi Universal’s stake in VE from 63% to 48%. VU’s stake will be further diluted following completion of a €1.5 billion capital increase through a sale of shares by VE.

Performer of the month