AFD approves Cambodia water treatment loan

The French Development Agency (AFD) has approved a $40m loan to Cambodia water utility Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) for building Niroth 2, the second stage in a water treatment facility being built by the authority.

PPWSA has signed contracts with two French companies, Vinci Construction and SAFEGE to build and supervise the project.

Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and AFD jointly funded the first stage of the project. Since last January, the facility has produced around 130,000m³ of potable water a day.

According to PPSWA, the demand for drinking water in Phnom Penh has increased by 30% in the last two years. Upon completion, the two plants will supply water to half of the city.

PPWSA general director Sim Sitha said: "[It] is expected to make PPWSA able to expand its supply of water in various regions in some districts in Phnom Penh, especially the 20 communes that have just been included in the administrative boundary of the city."

Vinci Construction senior vice president Julien Rayssiguier said: "The first stage was Niroth 1, which demonstrated quite well that the needs are here."