HIGH-TECH SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS FUNDED BY JAPAN ODA LOAN LAUNCHED

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Five of the 13 sewage treatment plants under the National Sewage Treatment Plant Project were launched today at the
Pantai Sewage Treatment Plant by Deputy Energy, Water and Communications
Minister Joseph Salang Gandum.

According to a statement of the Embassy of Japan, four of the plants,
located in Bunus, Pantai, Bandar Tun Razak and Puchong, were sewage treatment
plants and the Klang facility was a regional sludge treatment plant.

"In total, there will be 13 treatment plants by March next year and they
will benefit about 2.8 million residents in urban areas with high population
density, benefiting one in 10 Malaysians.

"These treatment facilities, based on modern mechanised treatment
processes, have the ability to produce high quality effluents that would reduce
more than 90 per cent of the pollution discharged into rivers," the statement
said.

The 13 plants were funded by the Japan Official Development Assistance
(ODA) loan programme signed between the Japan International Cooperation Agency
(Jica) and Malaysia in 2000, totalling 48.5 billion Yen (RM1.89
billion).

The project also involved full-time on-the-job technology transfer as well
as operations and maintenance skills with experienced Japanese plant operators
working alongside Malaysian operators to ensure sustainable operating
conditions.

Jica would also provide support and assistance to improve the policy
planning capacity of the Sewerage Services Department, the implementing arm of
the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry.

-- BERNAMA