Japan: flirting with PSP

• From: Vol 4, Issue 9 (September 2003)
• Category: General
• Region: Asia
• Country: Japan
• Related Companies: Dai-Ichi Kankyo, Ebara, Fuji Electric, Hitachi Zosen, Kurimoto Steel, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Nihon HELS, Nippon Jogesuido Sekkei, Sekisui Chemical, Sumitomo, Taisei, Tokyo Gas and Veolia

Japan is not likely to feature on most private water companies’ radar screens based on its past experience of PSP. But that could change if more greenfield projects come on stream. Thames Water and Veolia seem to think they will.

To date, private sector participation (PSP) in the Japanese water market has been negligible. Save for a 51/2-year management contract for a small city in Hiroshima prefecture, PSP has been limited to the operation of small STPs and the outsourcing of specialist utility functions such as metering and billing.

Slowly but surely
As far as water services contracts go ...