Vol 5, Issue 5 (May 2004)

Need to know

• COMPANY RESULTS

  First quarter figures for Veolia and Suez show strength in Europe, but weakness on the contracting side.

• CORPORATE DEALS

  Siemens’ $993 million acquisition of US Filter’s systems and services businesses brings another heavyweight industrial into the water equipment market to compete alongside ITT and GE.

• DESALINATION

  More details have emerged of the new socialist government’s alternative plan for relieving the perceived water deficit on Spain’s dry Mediterranean coast.

• ITALIAN INVESTMENT

  A draft plan to improve water quality and promote efficient water use in the northwestern Italian region of Piedmont earmarks €3.3 billion to be spent between now and 2016.

• REGULATION AND DEREGULATION

  The environment councillor for the northeastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Gianfranco Moretton, has announced that concessions to run water services in the region’s five ATOs will be awarded through public tenders.

Analysis

• Chinese water torture

  Thames is brave to turn its back on China’s growth.

• Who’s afraid of RO?

  Abu Dhabi and Oman seem concerned about membrane desalination. It will cost them.

General

• AQP talks privatisation and partnerships

  With a deal with its minority owner nearly complete, the Apulia water utility will soon be free to pursue its ambition.

• Black & Veatch out of Kahrama

  AEC is seeking new partners to help it close the long-running Arzew IWPP.

• Disi given July pricing deadline

  The parties must agree on a price that the Jordanian government can afford and the developers find acceptable.

• Drought puts pressure on Sedapal

  A water shortage has forced the Peruvian utility to turn off the capital’s water every night. Leticia Lozano in Lima examines whether this will change attitudes towards privatisation.

• England & Wales lead international comparators

  David Lloyd Owen reviews Ofwat’s international comparison of water company performance.

• French reveal China strategy

  Veolia has gone for the big deal; Suez has focused on high income. Can either hold their own in the face of massive local competition? GWI’s special correspondent Olivia Jensen reports from Hong Kong.

• Insight - David Lloyd Owen

  The accession nations will receive generous EU funding for environmental compliance but the private sector will still be required.

• Israel’s finance ministry changes heart

  After strong criticism, the finance ministry has come up with the money for the national desalination plan. Too late for the BOOT projects at Ashdod and Haifa.

• Ka-Shing swoops on Cambridge

  Hong Kong’s property tycoon has paid the full price for Cambridge Water. What is in it for him?

• Malaysian privatisation changes course

  The government wants a national regulator and a fully integrated approach to private sector participation before any further concessions are awarded.

• Minas Gerais leads the way with PPPs

  Brazil expects to invest US$60 billion in public-private partnerships in the water sector. Minas Gerais intends to be first.

• Recent China deals

  In April, Veolia became the first foreign company to enter the water industry in China’s Guizhou Province, winning a contract to supply water to the city of Zuny.

• Saudis need to spend $38 billion

  The Kingdom’s water and sewerage services must be expanded but it will cost.

• Thames beats a retreat in China

  The French may be pressing ahead in China, but German-owned Thames is on the way out. Peter Chan reports from Hong Kong.

• The search for a reliable partner

  Each of the European majors operates in China with the support of a local partner to reduce the financial and operational risks.

• Two emerge as favourites for Sohar

  A proposal based on RO is the best price option but will probably be overlooked.

• US Filter boss joins the Germans

  Veolia has sold the bulk of its US business to Siemens, the German electrical engineer. Including CEO Andy Seidel.

• Water reuse in the US – membranes have it covered

  Larry Chertoff investigates one of the fastest-growing sectors of the US water industry.

• Xiamen seeks investment

  The port city in south-east China is looking for a partner. The tender has attracted international names.