BerlinWasser International (BWI) signed a contract Friday, June 6, 2003, in the Albanian capital Tirana to take over the operational responsibility for the drinking water supply and sewage disposal of four Albanian cities.
AquaMundo GmbH, a subcontractor of BWI, is involved in the venture with 40 percent. Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company, through its subsidiary AmiWater, owns two thirds of Mannheim-based AquaMundo GmbH.
The project was assigned by the World Bank through an international invitation to bid for the cities Durres, Fier, Lezhe and Saranda, totaling about 400.000 inhabitants. The management contract offers the private operator fixed payments plus performance-based commission.
To achieve these variable components, BWI and AquaMundo must accomplish and verify specific service tasks that include maintenance condition and business management characteristics. The World Bank contributes the financial funds covering the management services and in addition allocates 20 million euros ($22.6 million) for necessary investments.
The project goal is to establish the operational, organizational and business management processes within five years in order to ensure that the water supply and sewage disposal systems in the four cities run on an independent, economical, cost-covering basis.
To achieve these tasks BWI and AquaMundo experts assume management operation responsibilities on a long-term basis and will be assisted by a team of experts in various fields including engineering services, leak detection, system operations, procurement functions, maintenance, customer services, payment collection procedures and accounting.
Last year, AquaMundo was commissioned by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau with the management contract for the water supply and sewage disposal for the city of Kavaja/Albania. The company aims for further projects in this region.
AquaMundo was founded in 2000, and specializes in long-term water supply and sewage disposal network projects, with a strong emphasis in the countries of Central and South East Europe, Latin America and China.
Saudi Arabian Amiantit is an international manufacturer of pipes and accessories for fluid systems. The company recently formed Jeddah-based AmiWater to strengthen its global presence by diversifying its activities to include building, operation and management of water supply and wastewater disposal infrastructure facilities.
Industrial group Amiantit was established in 1968 at Dammam and is a joint stock company with a paid-up share capital of 700 million Saudi riyals. Its shares are traded on the Saudi Stock Exchange. Amiantit companies in the kingdom and abroad manufacture various kinds of pipes, joints, fittings, tanks, rubber and insulation products, and related accessories. Other activities include own and transfer technology, and water project consultancy and management all around the world. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
