Field Notes
Finland: Kemira Oyj is acquiring the US company Cytec’s water treatment chemical business, which is worth approximately EUR 270 million, for a purchase price of EUR 190 million. This acquisition is expected to double Kemira’s revenue in the water treatment chemical business. Cytec’s water treatment chemical product line consists primarily of products in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment.
Mats Jungar, president of the Kemwater Business Area in Kemira commented: “Cytec completes our current service and product portfolio and improves our strategic position globally. This acquisition will strengthen our position as a global leading supplier of coagulants and flocculants. Our strategy is clear, founded on organic growth and acquisitions. The water treatment chemical business is a business of the future. Increasing environmental awareness and regulations, and the need to minimize waste and optimize costs in water treatment processes, are causing demand to increase.”
Italy: A consortium led by Aquatech International Corporation of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, recently received a contract valued at over US$ 75 million from ENEL, Italy’s largest power company, for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) facilities at five ENEL coal-fired power plants throughout Italy.
The feed for the water treatment systems for all five power plants will be Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) wastewater. Some of the plants have existing FGD scrubbers while others will be installing new scrubbers. Aquatech’s integrated solution includes a combination of physical/chemical treatment and evaporative technologies that will enable ENEL to achieve greater environmental responsibility and development of environmentally friendly power facilities. The five power plants in Italy where the ZLD Facilities will be installed are Brindisi, Fusina, Sulcis, Torrevaldaliga, and La Spezia. To execute this project, Aquatech formed a joint venture with its consortium partner, Carlo Gavazzi Impianti Spa, (CGI), under the name Zenit S.c.ar.l. The projects will be implemented over two years and will also include an option for operations and maintenance of the facilities.
Italy: The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S) Group has strengthened its position in the biosolids treatment and dewatering equipment market with the takeover of the Italian company Sernagiotto Technologies S.p.A, located in Casteggio near Milan. As Roger Radke, head of the I&S Water Technologies (WT) Division commented, “With Sernagiotto’s products and technologies for sludge drying and dewatering, we have rounded off our portfolio to cover the whole process chain in wastewater treatment. At the same time we have gained a new production and service location for our customers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.”
As a license-holder, Siemens WT already sells Sernagiotto’s dewatering and drying technologies in the North American market via its Group Company USFilter. The takeover enables Siemens WT to establish a footprint in currently unserved regional biosolids markets, particularly in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
European MBR Network launches webplatform
The European cluster “MBR-Network” group of four projects financed by the European Commission and entirely dedicated to the development of the membrane bioreactor technology, launched their official website www.mbr-network.eu.
The four projects, namely AMEDEUS, EUROMBRA, MBR-TRAIN and PURATREAT are supported by three different financial instruments set up by the European Commission within the sixth Framework Program, and are being implemented in parallel from October 2005 up to December 2009. They will perform research, development, capacity building and technological transfer of the MBR wastewater treatment process. Approximately 50 European and international companies and institutions are actively involved in these four projects and will join efforts and coordinate their actions within the MBR-Network cluster.
The website is one task initiated by the projects AMEDEUS and EUROMBRA, but it will not only provide detailed information on projects of the European cluster. It is designed as a communication and exchange platform dedicated to the worldwide MBR community, which offers contacts to a large group of international MBR professionals and experts. Comprehensive free services are offered online. For more information, visit: http://www.kompetenz-wasser.de
Swedish Baltic Sea Award presented to Carlson
The Swedish financier Björn Carlson received the 2008 Swedish Baltic Sea Award on August 25 at the Stockholm City Conference Centre/Folkets Hus during the closing session of the annual World Water Week in Stockholm.
The award honors Mr. Carlson’s 2005 personal donation of US$ 62.5 million for interdisciplinary projects and creative initiatives that support direct and practical efforts that contribute to improved water quality in the Baltic Sea. His newly founded Björn Carlson Foundation for the Baltic Sea administers the funds. To ensure the scientific quality of the Founda-tion’s work, he has appointed The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences as trustee of the donation. Approximately US$ 5 million per year will be invested in innovative research and experiments through the establishment of networks of researchers with different expertise.
The Baltic Sea, as a semi-enclosed sea with shallow and narrow entrances and a slow water exchange with the North Sea, is considered the most polluted sea in the world. Nine riparian states discharge heavy pollution loads, including heavy metals and chlorinated organic substances, which have had seriously detrimental effects on the ecological system. Several species of plants and animals have nearly been eradicated. Nutrient-laden wastewaters from municipalities and polluted agricultural run-off have contributed to the problem by causing eutrophication and intense algal blooms. For more information, visit the website www.siwi.org.
Septech Simon-Hartley awarded Dubai contract
The US$ 30-million contract for water treatment systems to serve the theme park being constructed at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, was awarded to Septech Simon-Hartley, a joint venture partnership between Septech Emirates LLC of the United Arab Emirates and the UK company Ashbrook Simon-Hartley Ltd.
Atlantis, The Palm will be a destination resort with marine and entertainment attractions located at the center of the crescent of The Palm, Jumeirah, a multi-billion-dollar, leisure and residential man-made island in Dubai. The contract, scheduled for completion by mid-2008, requires Septech Simon-Hartley to supply, install and commission 11 water treatment plants that will combine thermal stabilization, sand filtration, ozone disinfection, protein stripping and bio-removal to maintain Atlantis’ aquatic environments.
Waterscan recognized for innovative water management technology
The UK company Waterscan was named as one of the top twenty winners in the BT Business “Essence of the Entrepreneur” Award for its innovative approach to water audit and cost reduction services.
The water conservation company provides water audit investigations, leak detection surveys and repair services for industrial and municipal customers.
Part of the Waterscan system uses data loggers to remotely monitor water consumption. Recently the company launched the PW2 Logger, which provides daily meter readings to ensure accurate billing. Waterscan Managing Director Neil Pendle explained: “If a leak occurs, the device automatically sends a text message, and one of our engineers is on site within twenty four hours to rectify the problem.”
Waterscan also developed a rainwater management system that provides water on demand without the need for separate distribution pipes or back up storage tanks. The technology can be integrated into new build projects or retrofitted into existing installations. “These are having a real impact on our customers’ water charges. Installing a rainwater recovery system can reduce water consumption at a site by as much as seventy five percent,” he said.
