Water distribution research planned

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)