Field Notes--Europe/Middle East
Regional: The outsourcing of industrial water and wastewater treatment facilities is gaining ground across Europe as an increasingly popular option for end users to effectively manage on-site water needs and reduce operational costs.
The demand for these outsourcing services is expected to accelerate steadily. Frost & Sullivan (http://water.frost.com) Industry Analyst Suchitra Padmanabhan reported that the market for industrial outsourcing in the European water sector was estimated at US$ 620 million in 2004 and will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of eight percent to reach close to $1 billion in 2011 with France and the United Kingdom offering the maximum revenue generation opportunities.
Rising discharge costs, strict effluent norms and increasingly complex effluents are driving the trend toward outsourcing wastewater treatment in the petrochemicals, automotive and chemicals industries.
Successful contracts in the petrochemicals industry in the Benelux region are expected to boost revenues. Germany’s strong industrial base also promises immense opportunities although progress has been slow.
Saudi Arabia: Nominations have been invited by the end of 2005 for the 2004-06 round of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water, which seeks to reward the efforts undertaken by innovative scholars, scientists and researchers as well as organizations in the realm of water resources worldwide.
The prize was established to advance research dedicated to solving problems associated with the provision and preservation of adequate and sustainable water resources, particularly in arid regions. An award of $133,000 will be made in each of five branches, each of which has a particular topic for this round:
• Surface Water: Water Harvesting
• Ground Water: Management of Coastal Aquifers
• Alternative (non-traditional) Water Resources: Treatment and Reuse of Wastewater
• Water Resources Management: Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management in Arid and Semi Arid Regions
• Protection of Water Resources: Ground Water Pollution by Urban Activities.
Information about the prize can be found on the website: www.psipw.org . The deadline for nominations is 31 December 2005. E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected].
UK: Monsal Limited completed its acquisition of Montra Mixing Ltd and company’s full range of chopper pumps and jet mixing systems. Originally established in 2003 as an independent joint venture company owned equally by Monsal Ltd and Transvac Systems Ltd, Monsal will now operate as a specialist business unit under the common Monsal brand.
Consequently, Monsal will offer a comprehensive rang of mixing solutions in the water industry for sludge including liquid jet, impeller, air and biogas systems. Monsal systems have been audited and approved to the requirements of the UVDB Verify water industry procurement standards body.