After some diagnostic trips made by BIWASE’s technical team (Binh Duong Water Supply Sewerage Environment Co., Ltd) to NPNL (Vientiane Capital Water Supply State Enterprise) to survey on actual situation of NPNL’s facilities, the two companies’ Managers came to an agreement that a learning and sharing experience program shall be carried out to improve their staff’s in managing and operating, especially in “ energy efficiency, NRW reduction and customer service” by seeking for financing from international agencies.

Two experienced technical teams of each party have been established to implement this programe since April 2014 and the two parties were self-financed for cost of travelling across Viet Nam and Laos.
An MOU was officially signed on September 23rd, 2014by BIWASE and NPNL with witness of representative from Asian Development Bank (ADB) –the sponsor for a Twinning Programe between Binh DuongWater Supply Sewerage Environment Co., Ltd and Vientiane Capital Water Supply State Enterprise with a Work Plan approved for 18 months. In this programe, BIWASE is referred as Mentor and NPNL is referred as Recipient.

After 18 months of twinning with 5 diagnostic trips ( 3 from BIWASE and 2 from NPNL), the programe has brought many good results to NPNL and it is also highly evaluated by ADB with details as follows:

• NPNL now better manage its power consumption used for pumping at Water Treatment Plants. The power consumption was reduced from 0.48kw/m3 (in April 2014) to 0.30kw/m3( in December 2015). A pilot zone (DMA 1) was established in Kaolieo and then 2 other pilot zones ( DMA 2 and DMA 3) were also formed to enable NPNL’s staff in controlling their network;

• NPNL’s staff were trained on leakage detection to reduce water loss and improve pressure on the network. This helps to lower water loss ratio of NPNL from 36% in 2014 to 32% in 2015, a significant number as NPNL are operating their water treatment plants with old equipment and technology.

A closing meeting for the twinning programe was held in Vientiane on April 28th, 2016 with attendance of representative from ADB, BIWASE and NPNL. This programe not only enhances the two companies to get more effectiveness in their business but also helps them get a close relationship. Furthermore, this also strengthen solidarity between Binh Duong province-Vientiane capital as well as Viet Nam-Laos.

Lê Nhân

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