Water management in Batam

Water management in Batam

JAKARTA (JP): The Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) has approved Biwater, a private firm of Britain, to manage the island's water supply, an official says.

"Biwater will manage the water supply under a Build, Operate and Transfer arrangement beginning in April," Soeryohadi Djatmiko, a BIDA executive, was quoted by Antara as saying in Batam yesterday.

He also said that negotiations concerning prices and the time frame of the operation are still underway.

"Biwater must charge lower prices than what the Singaporean government charges its citizens on water bills," the official said. (hdj)