USFilter, Enerkon set new ventures

USFilter, Enerkon set new ventures

JAKARTA (JP): USFilter of the United States will expand its
water treatment business into Indonesia by October, a director of
the company said on Saturday.

USFilter's director for Southeast Asian affairs, Richard
Jacob, said here that his company would tie up with PT Enerkon to
work on several projects.

"We're now working on this joint venture. Hopefully, we can
formally announce it in October."

The companies, he said, had not yet decided on their stake in
the venture, but USFilter would possibly hold the majority.

Although Jacob declined to discuss the fund needed to
capitalize the venture, he said it should generate total revenues
of at least US$150 million annually in the next five years.

He believed now was the right time to enter Indonesia.

"I think the crisis facing Indonesia will end in two years.
And when it starts growing, we'll be ready to benefit from it."

He added the firm had already secured a number of projects in
the country.

USFilter, a widely diversified company with 22,000 workers
worldwide, has dealt with engineering and procurement services in
Indonesia for three years. It built a water processing facility
for Lippo Cikarang in Bekasi, West Java.

PT Enerkon, founded in 1995, has also worked in a wide range
of businesses, from oil and gas to petrochemicals, power,
manufacturing and property.

Considering the interests of Enerkon, Jacob said USFilter was
also interested in expanding its venture to cover other fields,
particularly the oil and gas sectors. (bnt)