Thames Pam Jaya announced

JAKARTA (JP): British water company Thames Water and city- owned water company PDAM Jaya christened their joint-venture firm PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ) yesterday.

TPJ director John Hurcom said at the company's water treatment plant in Buaran, East Jakarta, that the new name was announced following a restructuring of the company's shareholders to improve the service it offers the public.

Thames Water's previous partner, PT Kekar Pola Airindo, a local firm owned by former president Soeharto's eldest son Sigit Hardjojudanto, withdrew after Soeharto's downfall on May 21 and sold its 20 percent stake worth US$410,000 to Thames Water.

Hurcom said the restructuring had not affected the company's commitment to managing the tap water supply in the eastern part of the capital.

"TPJ is responsible for managing, operating, maintaining and improving the water supply system for the eastern part of Jakarta," he said.

He said TPJ would embark on a major pipe improvement program next month to rehabilitate more than 100 kilometers of pipeline in North Jakarta.

The program, costing around Rp 9 billion, will involve 20 local suppliers and contractors.

Since February TPJ has replaced and installed more than 12,000 water stand meters and opened a 24-hour customer service center and hotline, he added. The hotline telephone number is 577 2010.

Regarding TPJ's cooperation with PDAM Jaya, Hurcom said the size of the stake to be acquired by the city water company was still under negotiation.

PDAM might take a five percent to 10 percent stake, he said.

After yesterday's announcement, which coincided with celebrations to mark Indonesia's 53rd independence day, parcels of food were handed over to 2,500 poor families living in the eastern part of Jakarta where the company operates. (cst)