Four drinking water plants worth US$145.6 million are set to start operation next year to increase Indonesia’s access to clean water.
The Jakarta Post reported that Mochammad Natsir, development director at the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry said the treatment plants will be located in four locations.
These include Yogyakarta-Sleman-Bantul (Karta Mantul) in Yogyakarta, Banjar Bakula in South Kalimantan, Palu-Sigi-Donggala (Pasigala) in Central Sulawesi and Kubu Raya in West Kalimantan.
“There is a limited amount of water in some municipalities, while there is plenty in others that could have been jointly used [by areas facing shortages],” he was reported to have said.
Around 300 litres per second is expected to be produced at the Pasigala project, while Banjar Bakula would be able to produce 250 liters of water per second.
The four projects have been funded by the Indonesian government, after being deemed unattractive to private investors, according to the Jakarta Post.
Private sector participation is still welcomed following the annulment of Law No. 7/2004 on water resources.
By 2019, the government has ambitious aims to increase access to drinking water to 100%, as stated in the National Mid-Term Development Plant. Between 2013 and 2016, the access rate is expected to have increase from 67% to 73%.
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