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)