On 11 April 2014 SITA Australia, a Suez Environnement (60%) and Sembcorp (40%) joint venture, announced the acquisition of specialist mining firm Mining & Industrial Labor Services (M.A.I.L.S). SITA Australia is a waste management and resource recovery firm currently operating in 13 mine-site recycling operations. M.A.I.L.S. works in the collection, transportation, and disposal of liquid waste from mining operations.
Report Type: Research Note
Brief research summaries of market development or company strategies.
GreenHunter Navigates U.S. Fracking Market
On 26 March 2014, GreenHunter Water, LLC, a subsidiary of GreenHunter Resources, sold its Dewitt County salt water disposal facility to Clear Water Resource Partners, LLC. The US$3.4 million Eagle Ford divestment is the third SWD facility sold in the last 12 months. GreenHunter is refocusing its water service operations for fracking exclusively in the Marcellus and Utica (Appalachia) shale plays.
Aqua America Consolidates Mid-Atlantic Position
On 24 March 2014, Aqua America Corporation reported three acquisitions in Virginia covering three counties and serving 1,480 residents for a total cash outlay of $257,501 and the assumption of $1.61 million in capital improvements. The firm followed up this deal on 31 March in Pennsylvania with the acquisition of Penn Township’s wastewater system serving 776 residential and 25 commercial customers for $3.7 million and $2 million of capital improvements.
Manila Water Enters New Frontier in Myanmar
On 18 March 2014, the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) of Myanmar, Manila Water Corporation (MWC), and Mitsubishi Corporation signed an MOU for a non-revenue water (NRW) reduction project. The project involves leak detection, pipe upgrades, and installation of meters and fee collection systems on a small scale. It will cost approximately US$1 million for the project and enable roughly 10,000 connections in central Yangon. MWC implemented similar measures in the East Manila city and seeks to replicate this experience in Yangon.
LG Continues Filling Out Water Portfolio
On 14 March 2014, Korea-based LG Chem filed for the acquisition of NanoH2O, an El Segundo, California-based reverse osmosis technology manufacturer. The reported US$200 million acquisition is expected to close by the end of April 2014. NanoH2O- founded in 2005- is backed by BASF, Total, Khosla Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, and the CalPERS Clean Energy & Technology Fund. The announcement comes after Toray outbid LG to acquire 56% of membrane manufacturer, Woongjin Chemical in 2013 for US$397 million.
Can IDE Stand-out in Competitive LatAm Market?
IDE is expanding its geographic footprint outside of its home market where it has supplied 1.1 million m3/d of desalination capacity- or 61% of its total supplied global capacity. Outside Israel, IDE has activities across the globe but to date only a small presence in Latin America, where it has supplied 37,000 m3/d of MVC and MED desalination capacity.
Agbar, Itochu Strengthen Water Partnership
On 26 February 2014, Spain-based Aguas de Barcelona (Agbar) announced the sale of a 33.4% stake in Canaragua Concesiones S.A. to Itochu Corporation of Japan.
GCC Targets Spur Greenfield Reuse Opportunities
On 17 February 2014 Muscat, Oman-based utility Haya Water (Oman Wastewater Services Company SAOC) outlined its upcoming wastewater plant tenders. As part of a US$4.7 billion infrastructure plan, Haya Water intends to connect 84% of the population to a wastewater service network by 2020, up from 30% today.
Namibia Water Undermined by Commodity Volatility
With the announcement on 12 February 2014 that Paris-based AREVA SA would not be selling the 55,000 m3/d desalination plant at its Trekkopje, Namibia uranium mine, Namibia’s water supply situation has been uprooted at a time of prolonged drought. The Namibia water utility, NamWater, is no closer to acquiring the facility and the approximately 17,000 m3/d it sources from the plant to meet municipal and industrial demands is at significant risk.
TAQA Powers Deeper into Water
On 4 February Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) announced a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) to develop a 136,383 m3/day SWRO plant in Al Zawra, Emirate of Ajman. The project is slated for completion in 2017 and will supply drinking water to the Northern Emirates.
