The Business of WaterInherent in the global water quest foregrounded at the Singapore International Water Week is the importance of good governance structures and support in sustainable urban development.
These and other pertinent issues were discussed at the Water Leaders Summit engaging top policy makers, Ministers, mayors and leaders of the industry, international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank as well as top academics.
Mr Lim Chee Onn, Executive Chairman of Keppel Corporation was among a panel of distinguished speakers invited to share their opinions and insights at the roundtable discussion examining “The Business of Water”.
At the heart of the matter was the collective advocacy for proper governance to create the right environment for innovation in water technologies and the provision of water infrastructures to be commercially viable.
Apart from enhancing economic competitiveness, strong governance impacts urban leadership, capacity development as well as technological innovations which can provide cost-effective solutions to the masses.
Sharing the main business propositions of water infrastructure development for Keppel, Mr Lim elaborated on observations about the relationship between the public and private sectors and conditions conducive to sustaining successful public-private partnerships (PPP), including transparency, trust and technology.
Touching on innovation and technology as key to solving urban water problems, Mr Lim also emphasised continual investments and efforts in research and development by both the public and private sectors to ensure that new technologies are effectively harnessed to reap benefits for humanity.
Speaking alongside Mr Lim were a line-up of respected industry experts including Mr Jamal Saghir, Director (Energy, Transport and Water), The World Bank; Mr Hu Siyi, Vice Minister, Ministry of Water Resources, People’s Republic of China, and Mr Gerard Payen, President, Aquafed (International Federation of Private Water Operators).
From the private sector, big water players were also represented by Mr Tom Searle, Group CE (International) & President, Water Business Group, CH2MHill, USA and Mr John Rice, Vice-Chairman, GE Company and President & CEO, GE Infrastructure, USA.
Mr Lim Chee Onn spoke on Public Private
Partnerships as part of the Water Leaders Summit
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a long-term partnering relationship between the public and private sectors to deliver services. Through PPP, the public sector seeks to bring together the expertise and resources of the public and private sectors to provide services to the public at the best value for money.
There are many possible PPP models, including joint-ventures, strategic partnerships to make better uses of government assets, Design-Build-Operate and Design-Build-Finance-Operate.
The Keppel Seghers Ulu Pandan NEWater Plant is built on a Design-Build-Own and Operate 20-year PPP contract, which was awarded to Keppel Integrated Engineering in January 2005. This plant is the biggest to-date and has a production capacity of 148,000m3/d NEWater per day. The PPP approach has helped to lower the overall cost of supplying water for PUB.
The National Environment Agency also awarded a PPP contract for Singapore’s fifth incineration plant to Keppel Seghers Engineering Singapore (KSES) in November 2005. Under the PPP, KSES would Design-Build-Own-Operate the incineration plant for a period of 25 years.
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