Project Will Expand and Upgrade Vietnamese Capital's Water Facilities

The Hanoi Clean Water Trading Company has signed a contract to hand over a project for the upgrade and expansion of Hanoi's water supply system to Kolon Group of South Korea and Vietnam Construction Import-Export Corp. (Vinaconex).

It is part of the fourth stage of a World Bank-funded program worth nearly US$50 million to set up urgently needed water supply facilities for Hanoi. The project's objective is as follows:

• build two water treatment plants with a daily output of 30,000 cubic meters each in Tu Liem and Thanh Tri districts;
• install 21km of transmission pipelines with diameters of 300mm-800mm;
• install 93km of pipes for water distribution; and
• install 650km of pipes connecting to nearly 60,000 households throughout the city.

Director of the Hanoi Water Supply Company Bui Van Mat said the two plants are expected to become operational after four years and will increase the city's water supply to 450,000 cubic meters daily from 390,000 cubic meters at present.

Kolon and Vinaconex were selected for the contract over 71 other Vietnamese and overseas bidders. The Plancenter Company of Finland and Vietnam Water Supply and Drainage and Environment Consulting Company were awarded a contract to provide consulting engineering support. At the end of the month the Hanoi Clean Water Trading Company intends to sign a contract for over a project valued at US$6 million that will apply Danish technology to upgrade Hanoi's water system.