NO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR NPWSS PROJECT - SPAN

CYBERJAYA, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) has yet to receive any applications from any party to implement the infrastructure projects for water treatment and distribution under the Northern Perak Water Supply Scheme (NPWSS).

In a statement today, SPAN said in general, the government encourages private sector involvement through alternative financing frameworks as outlined in the 2040 Water Transformation Plan. This is aimed at ensuring the sustainability and viability of the water services industry.

"However, SPAN has not yet received any applications from consortiums for the implementation of the NPWSS," read the statement.

SPAN further advised that any party intending to carry out water services-related projects should first seek approval from the relevant authorities, such as SPAN or other related agencies, before making any public statements to avoid confusion.

This follows a report in an English-language newspaper on Dec 1, which mentioned a joint initiative between the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) and Gamuda Berhad to implement water treatment and distribution infrastructure under the NPWSS. The aim was to supply treated water to the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP) and provide excess treated water to Penang.

SPAN, as the regulator of the water services industry, emphasised that it is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and distribution of water in accordance with the legal provisions under the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) and its subsidiary legislation.

The NPWSS project is planned as a strategic initiative to transfer 1,500 million litres per day (MLD) of raw water from Sungai Perak to the Bukit Merah Dam, in order to meet irrigation, domestic, and industrial water needs, including the development of KIGIP.

-- BERNAMA