Vol 6, Issue 2 (February 2005)

Need to know

• ASIAN HOPEFULS

  The Indonesian government is trying to woo foreign investors into its water sector once again.

• CHINA ACTION

  A new Chinese public utility will soon be on the market.

• DESAL ADVANCES AND REVERSES

  Our Desalination Tracker (see p25) is larger than ever, boosted by nine new Spanish plant proposals (but can they afford it? – see story p14).

• GERMAN ADVANCES

  Veolia subsidiaries have clocked up new contracts in eastern Germany.

• STILL FIGHTING

  Siemens Austria looks close to achieving its aim of acquiring 90% of VA TECH shares with its improved offer of €65/share now that Goldman Sachs Asset Management has sold up its 8.5%.

• UK CONTRACTS

  Severn Trent has appointed 22 contractors and consultants to carry out its £2.2 billion capital investment programme over the next five years.

Analysis

• 2005 in the crystal ball

  It is a good time to reflect on current global trends.

• Insight - David Lloyd Owen

  Gasping for breath in Bolivia.

General

• ADWEA inks Taweelah B agreements

  A $2 billion limited recourse debt package is now being put together to pay for the Gulf’s biggest water project.

• Aguas Argentinas set for tearful ending

  Having survived the peso devaluation, the largest private water concession in the world is now threatened by populist politics. Leticia Lozano reports.

• Court judgement challenges municipals

  Wholly owned municipal firms are protected against competitive tenders. Can they hold out against consolidation?

• Doosan moves into water supply business

  The Korean company is seeking to broaden the range of services it offers Middle Eastern clients.

• EU brings MDGs into focus

  The EU wants to play a bigger role as a major funder of water services in poor countries. Olivia Jensen reports on the new EU-ACP Water Facility.

• Iraq mandate for Earth Tech

  US company gets subcontractor role on a number of Iraqi projects.

• Mid Kent goes Australian

  The UK water company has gone to a financial buyer for 51% more than its expected regulated asset value. What is next?

• Modest growth for Veolia and Suez

  The French giants saw small increases in revenues in 2004. Veolia is looking to China, while energy overshadows water at Suez.

• OPIC to finance Algerian desalination deal

  Algerian project finance deals are looking more attractive than they have done in the past. Could this herald a change in fortunes for the Algerian Energy Company?

• Spanish government drops water charge

  Pressure from farmers means that Spain probably won’t comply with the Water Framework Directive, but it still wants the EU’s money for desalination.

• US Filter bags industrial water orders

  Siemens firm awarded two contracts in the Middle East.

• Who did well in 2005?

  The shortlist for the 2005 Global Water Awards has been announced. 22 companies have something to talk about.

Market insight

• Keeping up with the money

  Lawyers move to where the work is. They have had to be fast-moving to stay in the water sector over the past year. Alexandra Child investigates.

• The law firms in the running

  A directory of the most talked about firms in the industry.

• The US: options in a contracting market

  Larry Chertoff investigates how big law firms are repositioning themselves in the shifting contract operations market.