PURSAT: The Cambodia-Japan Water Treatment Plant in Pursat City was officially inaugurated on December 28, nearly doubling the clean water capacity of the Pursat Water Authority.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Minister of Industry Hem Vandy and Japanese Ambassador Ueno Atsushi, who highlighted the achievements of joint efforts between Cambodia and Japan to address a growing demand for clean water in the provinces.

According to the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, the new water treatment plant in Pursat can treat 6,600 cubic meters of water per day will increase the water production capacity of Pursat Water Supply Authority to 13,860 cubic meters per day. Pursat has a 247 kilometer water distribution network which will be able to distribute clean, safe, and affordable water to more than 15,000 families in Pursat and parts of Bakan and Kandieng districts.

The project was funded by a 2.41 billion yen (approximately $22.2 million US) grant from the Japanese government. It took two years to complete and includes an administrative building.

Minister Hem Vandy thanked the Japanese government and its people for their continued support of Cambodia's development, especially in the field of clean water. He said that Pursat’s socio-economic development and physical infrastructure increase had increased the area’s demand for clean water in recent years.

"This is the third water treatment plant inaugurated under the financial assistance of the Government of Japan in 2023,” he noted.

The important achievement will not only address the urgent water needs of the community, but will also support Cambodia's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. With greater access to clean water, Pursat will be better able to attract more investment, which the government says contributes to the economic development and well-being of the people in the province.