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Monday, January 18, 2010
Today's News Headlines
* Emcali to launch consultancy tender for wastewater treatment - Colombia
* Health ministry to implement new waste collection, disposal regulations - Panama
* Santo Domingo to implement modern waste collection system - Dominican R.
* Organizations rush to avoid sanitation crisis after earthquake - Haiti
* Mujica, Fernández discuss bilateral water, infrastructure initiatives - Argentina, Uruguay
* Govt to begin US$7mn Chumbao irrigation project - Peru
* World Bank approves US$190mn for water, sanitation in Pernambuco - Brazil
* Hatch purchases local infrastructure consultancy firm - Chile
* Essap, Mariano Roque Alonso sign agreement for US$5mn sewerage project - Paraguay
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* Emcali to launch consultancy tender for wastewater treatment - Colombia
Colombia's Cali-based multi-utility Emcali will launch a consultancy tender this year to analyze the upgrade of its wastewater treatment plant, the planning manager of Emcali's water and sanitation division, Eduardo Arbeláez, told BNamericas.
The project, which is part of the firm's 2007-16 sanitation and wastewater management plan, will require an estimated 220bn-230bn pesos (US$112mn-117mn) investment.
A team of specialists is currently drawing up the bidding rules and establishing the contract conditions. Once that is determined, they will establish a budget for the consultancy contract, said Arbeláez.
The utility's wastewater treatment plant, which treats about 75% of the city's wastewater, only provides advanced primary treatment, reducing biological oxygen demand (BOD) by 45%, Arbeláez said.
Emcali officials are looking to improve treatment capacity by implementing secondary treatment. Doing so would reduce BOD by 85%, he added.
By Eva Medalla
Business News Americas
* Health ministry to implement new waste collection, disposal regulations - Panama
Panama's health ministry (Minsa) is to implement new procedures for garbage collection and disposal to help solve the waste problem currently affecting capital Panama City, an official from Minsa told BNamericas.
Minsa is working together with other government institutions including the environment authority (Anam) and the capital's municipal government to carry out the initiative, which is one of the ministry's objectives for 2010.
A solution to the waste problem should definitely be established this year, the official said, and committees are currently holding meetings to draw up the pertinent regulations.
"The objective is to solve the present waste collection and disposal problem that is affecting the city. As part of the initiative, a campaign will be carried out to educate people on how to properly dispose of their garbage," the official said.
In Panama City 85% of waste is domestic in origin. Inhabitants generate 1,500t of garbage daily, according to Anam.
By Indiana Corrales
Business News Americas
* Santo Domingo to implement modern waste collection system - Dominican R.
The deadline to present offers in the tender to implement a new waste collection system in the Dominican Republic's capital Santo Domingo is January 22, the director of the city's eastern council, Juan López, told BNamericas.
The project has an official budget of some 400mn pesos (US$11mn) which will be financed by the state-owned Banco de Reservas (Banreservas), the country's largest bank in loans and assets.
The initiative includes the design, construction and operation of the collection system. Resources will also be invested in buying new equipment and training, López said.
"The new system has three different elements: the installation of modern waste containers; the operation of trucks designed to collect these containers so workers can avoid direct contact with waste; and a computer-based system which guarantees efficiency," Lopez said.
The city council currently operates a traditional waste collecting system in which garbage is collected directly by workers who then deposit the waste in dumps.
By Indiana Corrales
Business News Americas
* Organizations rush to avoid sanitation crisis after earthquake - Haiti
One of the top priorities following the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince is providing access to safe water and sanitation and numerous international aid organizations have teams on the ground trying to ensure access to these vital services.
"An airplane with equipment landed on January 14 and we expect another one to land in one or two days. We have equipment on the ground but we need reinforcements because the needs are so great," an official from Action Against Hunger (ACF) told BNamericas.
"The new airplane will contain 150t of largely water and sanitation equipment, treatment stations, all kinds of chlorination tools that will help us provide emergency access to clean water," the official said.
Other equipment to be sent includes flexible water tanks, latrines, emergency units for water treatment, jerry cans, drinking water kits, computers and communications equipment.
ACF is especially concerned about controlling epidemics, since a large amount of the population is living on the streets among the deceased. This massive population of homeless people has no access to adequate sanitation, including latrines, which greatly increases their risk of disease, according to a report published on ACF's website.
The organization is currently operating water treatment stations, vehicles and communications equipment to mitigate the enormous water and sanitation challenges facing the local population.
ACF is also working to provide nutritional support for children (especially infants under six months of age), distribution of food rations, public health and hygiene and will offer mental health services for at least the next several months.
By Indiana Corrales
Business News Americas
* Mujica, Fernández discuss bilateral water, infrastructure initiatives - Argentina, Uruguay
Uruguay's President-elect José Mujica met with Argentine President Cristina Fernández on January 14 to discuss bilateral issues, including the conflict over the Botnia pulp mill, an official from the presidential office told BNamericas.
Mujica also addressed the dredging of the Paraguay-Paraná waterway, trade, and joint infrastructure development initiatives, among other issues, the official said.
The Uruguayan president-elect is looking to reach an agreement with Fernández so that the Argentine government puts an end to the blockade on the Fray Bentos international bridge, connecting Uruguay's Río Negro department to the neighboring country.
Rumors have it that Mujica will commit his support to the candidacy of Fernández's husband and former Argentine president Néstor Kirchner to head Mercosur, in exchange for the lifting of the blockade, which has disrupted Uruguayan trade since the Botnia pulp mill opened in 2008.
Argentina has accused the pulp mill of contaminating the Uruguay river, whose waters are shared by the two countries. However, Botnia is equipped with state-of-the-art technology which World Bank experts claim prevents the facility from contaminating the river's waters.
The meeting between Mujica and Fernández took place in Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Govt to begin US$7mn Chumbao irrigation project - Peru
The government of Peru's Apurímac region and provincial government of Andahuaylas district are working together to carry out a 21mn-sol (US$7.36mn) irrigation project in the Chumbao valley.
The project will allow technified irrigation to be carried out over 2,600ha, benefiting the Pacucha, San Jerónimo, Andahuaylas and Talavera de la Reyna districts, according to a report by government news service Andina.
Chilean firm Humeres is set to complete a technical feasibility study over the next few days, and work will begin once the rainy season ends in March, said sub-regional manager Marcial Prado Jáuregui.
The project is being financed by a World Bank loan, with counterpart funding from the regional government, the report said.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* World Bank approves US$190mn for water, sanitation in Pernambuco - Brazil
The World Bank has approved a US$190mn loan to improve water and sanitation services in Brazil's Pernambuco state, according to a bank release.
The resources will help finance the state's sustainable water project which aims to expand sustainable water and sanitation services to the population of the Carpibaribe river basin and the metropolitan region of state capital Recife.
The project seeks to provide universal access to water supply and sanitation in these areas by 2014 and 2018, respectively, the release said.
PROJECTS
Resources will be used to improve the efficiency of state water utility Compesa as well as creating and strengthening a state water and climate agency which will be in charge of water resources planning and management.
The government will also carry out programs to expand the Pirapama water supply system, reduce pollution in water reservoirs and establish and strengthen river basin committees and water supply associations, the release said.
In addition, the project aims to reduce water rationing in the Recife metropolitan region to 10% by 2015. In 2008, 88% of the population was subject to rationing.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Pernambuco has a per capita water availability of 1,320m3/y on average, equivalent to nearly 3.5% of the national average per capital availability, making the northeastern state of the driest in Brazil.
About 80% of the state's territory is located in semi-arid areas with water availability ranging from 400m3-600m3/y.
While 91% of urban households have access to water supply, only 30 of the 170 municipalities served by Compesa receive water supply 24 hours/day.
Nearly 76% of the 8.4mn people in the state live in urban areas, the release said.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Hatch purchases local infrastructure consultancy firm - Chile
The local branch of Canada-based international consulting firm Hatch recently purchased Chilean consultancy firm REG Estudios de Ingeniería, the company reported in a release.
The purchase was completed on January 6 and will boost Hatch's potential to develop infrastructure projects.
REG has over 35 of experience in the development of public and private initiatives that include water projects; dams and reservoirs; tunnels; waste disposal systems; transport projects; high density fluid management; water and mining networks; environmental initiatives; mines; and roads.
Last year, Hatch created its Latin America infrastructure division comprising four main segments: transport, water, services and joint ventures.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
* Essap, Mariano Roque Alonso sign agreement for US$5mn sewerage project - Paraguay
Paraguay's state water utility Essap and local authorities in Central department's Mariano Roque Alonso district have signed an agreement to work on a new sewerage system for the area.
The project will cost US$5mn, which will be financed by a World Bank loan, as well as counterpart funding to be provided by Essap, paper La Nación reported.
A tender to install the sewerage network is likely to be launched over the next few days, according to Essap.
The work will have an important impact on the quality of life of residents in Mariano Roque Alonso, which currently lacks a sanitary sewerage system, said local governor Heriberto Mármol.
By Business News Americas staff reporters
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In-deph interview
* "The government has decided to implement emergency measures to guarantee water supply"
Jack Arévalo
Manager
SANAA
Honduras
http://www.bnamericas.com/interviews/waterandwaste/Jack_Arevalo_,SANAA,/170324157
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Main companies covered in today's news
* Empresas Municipales de Cali
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Empresas_Municipales_de_Cali-Emcali/170324157
* International Finance Corporation
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/International_Finance_Corporation-IFC/170324157
* The World Bank Group
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/The_World_Bank_Group-World_Bank/170324157
* Comisión Nacional del Agua
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Comision_Nacional_del_Agua-Conagua/170324157
* Hatch Ingenieros y Consultores Ltda.
http://www.bnamericas.com/company-profile/en/Hatch_Ingenieros_y_Consultores_Ltda,-Hatch_Chile/170324157
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