Water distribution research planned

JAKARTA (JP): Lyonnaise Des Eaux (LDE) water company plans to build a technology and research center to help improve the water distribution network in Jakarta, a company executive said on Monday.

LDE's director of Technology and Research Division, Patrick Cairo, told a media conference that the French company would spend US$1 million on the project.

Cairo said work on the project would be carried out soon. However, he gave no details on the proposed location for the center.

"We are currently recruiting staff for the center and will soon start its activities," he said, adding that the center director would be an Indonesian national.

LDE, through its subsidiary PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja), will run a water management firm here, with the cooperation of city- owned tap water company, PAM Jaya.

The center's project, Cairo said, is part of the Asia-Pacific Technology and Research Center (ASTRAN), which is funded by LDE.

"The Jakarta center will specialize in the water distribution network, because the city has to improve its network," he said.

The firm, he added, had set up similar centers in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Macao, Manila, New Delhi and Sydney, all with different functions.

Palyja said the water distribution system in Jakarta had a leakage level of about 43 percent.

"Investment in water distribution networks is two-thirds of the total infrastructure investment," he added.

Cairo said LDE allocated an average of some US$66 million each year for research activities all over the world.

He said the establishment of the center would enable Indonesia to acquire the latest know-how of water-related technology from ASTRAN or other networks of research centers in France and the United Kingdom.

ASTRAN's director Jacques Manem said the Jakarta center would establish long-term relations with Indonesian universities and institutes interested in water-related aspects.

"We already deal with about 50 universities throughout the world and are hoping to have similar relations with Indonesia's universities," he said.

Palyja president Pierre Alla said the center would exist as long as Palyja was here.

"We have a 25-year contract which started two years ago. The center will help us find solutions to overcome our day-to-day problems," he said. (nvn)