Mumbai, July 1: The Denmark-based Chemcontrol A/S, a global environmental engineering company, is set to begin operations in the country. The firm will form a joint venture with the Mumbai-based Econ Pollution Control in which Danish financial institution IFU may also make equity investments.

The venture will provide consultancy and engineering services in the areas of planning, design, commissioning and operation of toxic and chemical waste management systems. Financial details of the project are yet to be finalised, said Chemcontrol managing director Sten Ehrenreich.

He did not, however, forsee sizeable equity investments in the venture since it would only be providing services. While technology support for the venture would be provided by Chemcontrol, the local partner would offer infrastructure support. The venture, which will be based in Mumbai, will cater to the countrywide demand, said Econ chairman and managing director Amiya Kumar Sahu. ``For starters, we have explored possibilities in Maharashtra and Gujarat,'' said Sahu.

Chemcontrol is a subsidiary of Kommunekemi, which is well-known for environmental engineering projects. Chemcontrol had earlier carried out a study for the treatment of combined effluent streams in industrial estates in the country. The project was sponsored by the World Bank.The company currently operates in several countries, including Malaysia, Argentina, Venezuela, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic and Baltic countries.

Chemcontrol and Econ have been jointly awarded a project to undertake a techno-economic study for hazardous waste disposal in the trans-Thane Creak area. The contract has been awarded by the newly formed Trans-Thane Creak Waste Management Association (TTCWMA), a part of the Thane Belapur Industries Association.

The memorandum of understanding to carry out the study was signed in September 1995 by Tiba, Kommunekemi and IFU. The final agreement for the Rs 55-lakh project was signed last month.The techno-economic study will delve into the possibility and prospects of setting up a company to run a waste management plant in Thane. According to sources, if the result of the study favours setting up of a separate company to build, own and operate the plant, TTCWMA has in principle agreed to form a new company.

IFU, Kommunekemi, TTCWMA and a representative of the state government organisation are likely to be partners in the company, said sources. It is to be seen whether Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), which is providing the land for the plant, will pick up a stake in the company.Chemcontrol and Econ will submit the study by the year-end. And, if selected, they will provide consultancy for design and implementation of the project for which a separate agreement would be negotiated later.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.