THE NATIONAL Water Commission (NWC) is reporting progress in securing funding for the long overdue Kingston Sewerage Programme, which includes the construction of the Soapberry Treatment Plant.
The information is contained in the 2000/2001 annual report of the utility company which was tabled in Parliament last week.
On the drawing board for more than 20 years, the programme, when completed is expected to cost in excess of US$400
million.
Phase one of the programme which will cost just over US$140 million, was formulated during 2000/2001, and funding sought from both the private sector and multilateral donor/lender Agencies. The IDB has agreed to fund the necessary engineering studies as well as US$20 million towards phase one of the programme.
The Japanese Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) has reportedly shown interest in funding an additional US$40 million and a private sector firm has already proposed funding for the remaining US$80 million. The project is expected to get underway before the end of the year the NWC said.
The NWC last year secured funding to the tune of US$12 million under its Customers Assistance Programme (CAP) to assist its customers in conecting their lots to the new multi-million sewage treatment plants recently constructed in the resort towns of Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril.
It was recognised after the plants were built that many customers had difficulty in connecting because of the prohibitive cost.
The three new waste water treatment plants represent a major step in complying with the NWC's mandate that all major towns be provided with central sewers within the next 20 years. The next priority areas for new treatment plants are Port Antonio and Savanna-la-Mar. Financing for these projects is now being actively sought.
Meanwhile, the balance sheet of the water utility shows an improvement in performance over the period under review, with assets increasing by $813. 73 million to $6.75 billion for 2001.
