President Mohamed Nasheed today attended the inauguration of Hitachi participation in the operation of Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC). The launching ceremony was held this morning.

Speaking at the function, the President thanked the Japanese government and its people for all the assistance rendered to the Maldives and said he was pleased to see the cooperation extended to business and investments.

“I hope many more firms will see the Maldives as exciting place to do business and pioneer new technologies in the field of water, waste and energy,” said the President.

Noting that although Maldives was surrounded by water, safe water is in short supply, the President said fresh-water lens underneath each island was becoming insufficient to meet people's needs.

He further said population growth; changes in lifestyle; and, climate change were some of the reasons for the depletion of water resources.

Continuing in this regard, he said “only 18 islands in the country have proper sewerage systems and only 4 islands have water networks”.

The President said due to high price of electricity, the cost of desalinated water was very high. He said, therefore, utilizing renewable energy sources was needed for providing potable water at affordable prices.

MWSC was established in 1995 in Male'. On January 11, 2010, Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd. reached an agreement with the government of Maldives to take for a joint venture partnership water and sewage company Male' Water and Sewerage Company Pvt. Ltd.

Hitachi Plant Technologies' involvement in the operation of MWSC is expected to lead to upgrading water supply and sewage services of the Maldives.