France's Ondeo wins Lebanon's first water privatization contract

BEIRUT (AFP) Dec 13, 2002
French company Ondeo has been awarded a contract to manage and upgrade part of Lebanon's water network in the first privatisation deal in the sector, a French business source said here Friday.

Ondeo, a subsidiary of France's Suez, beat out another French bidder, Vivendi, for the four-year, 20-million-euro (dollar) contract.

It will manage water distribution in northern Lebanon from Tripoli, one of four such operations in the country after a recent restructuring.

Nine million euros (dollars) will go towards managing the office and the other 11 million towards upgrading the network and related infrastructure projects.

The Beirut government is aiming to raise some five billion dollars through a planned privatization of public services as part of efforts to help it service its large public debt.

SPACE.WIRE