Contract Awarded to Improve the Water Supply System in Biratnagar, Nepal’s Third Largest City

Shimizu Corporation (President: Kazuyuki Inoue) was awarded a contract by Nepal Water Supply Corporation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (hereinafter referred to as “Nepal”) to improve the water supply system in Biratnagar, the third largest city in Nepal and the capital of Koshi Province. The contract amount is approximately 2.2 billion yen. The Government of Japan has expressed its intention to support Nepal in achieving sustainable and balanced economic growth as it strives to become a developed country by 2043. We aim to develop business activities rooted in Nepal in consideration of future various construction projects in pipeline, whether part of a grant / ODA loan program or not, for transportation, electricity and energy-related infrastructure, as well as water and sewer systems that will help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Biratnagar is located approximately 240 km southeast of the capital city of Kathmandu and has a population of around 300,000. Despite the increasing demand for water driven by population and economic growth, the household water supply coverage rate in the city remains at about 30% as of 2019. On the other hand, while all the water supply facilities rely on deep wells, excessive pumping has become the normal practice, and the existing wells have water quality issues. As such, several new deep wells were needed to provide a reliable water source.

In response to the government of Nepal's request and based on the fact that the supply of safe water is one of the priority issues for the development of socio-economic infrastructure in Nepal, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) proposed grant aid to Nepal for the rehabilitation and the expansion of its water supply facilities in Biratnagar. A grant agreement was signed with the government of Nepal in March 2022. Subsequently, Shimizu was awarded the contract in a bidding process held in April 2024.

This project includes one new pumping station consisting of an overhead tank, water treatment facilities, a water reservoir, a pump building, an administration building, and three production wells. It also includes the rehabilitation of three existing pumping stations and the installation of main and branch distribution pipes. Construction is scheduled to be completed in May 2026. Once construction is completed, the average daily water supply in the area is expected to increase from about 9,000 m³/day to about 15,000 m³/day. The population served will also increase from around 52,000 to around 93,000.

We will continue striving to expand our business activities, viewing Asia and Africa broadly as major markets for our international civil engineering businesses.