On September 16, 2025, the groundbreaking ceremony for the “Vientiane Capital Water Supply Expansion Project” in Laos, for which Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd. (OC Global; Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) is providing consulting services as the lead company of a joint venture*, which includes detailed design, tender assistance, and construction supervision, was held. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Artsaphangthong Siphandon, Mayor; Mr. Sililaththongsin Thongpheng, Deputy Mayor; Mr. Bounyavath Niraxay, Director General at the Department of Public Works and Transport of Vientiane Capital; and Mr. Vilate Kinnavong, Director General at the Ministry of Finance, all from the Lao side. From the Japanese side, Mr. Tsutomu Koizumi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Laos; and Ms. Miyako Kobayashi, Chief Representative of the JICA Laos Office attended the ceremony. The construction work is being undertaken by Kubota Construction Co., Ltd.; Kubota Corporation; and Marubeni Protechs Corporation.

*Joint venture members: OC Global and SMEC International, in association with SK Consultants

Speech at the groundbreaking ceremony by Director General Bounyavath Niraxay

Commemorative photo of OCG representatives after the groundbreaking ceremony

Commemorative photo after soil digging activity
Sixth from the right: Mr. Artsaphangthong Siphandon, Mayor
Fourth from the left: Mr. Sililaththongsin Thongpheng, Deputy Mayor
Third from the left: Mr. Bounyavath Niraxay, Director General, Department of Public Works and Transport
First from the left: Mr. Vilate Kinnavong, Director General, Ministry of Finance
Fifth from the right: Mr. Tsutomu Koizumi, Ambassador of Japan to Laos
Fourth from the right: Ms. Miyako Kobayashi, Chief Representative of the JICA Laos Office
Second from the right: Mr. Mutsuya Mori, Executive Vice President of OC Global

In Vientiane, the capital of Laos, the recent rapid economic growth and population increase have led to a sharp rise in water demand, creating a serious situation in which the development has not been able to keep its pace. Many of the existing water treatment plants have already been forced to operate beyond their designed production capacity, and the water supply coverage remains only about 70% in urban areas. Furthermore, while the current supply capacity is 320,000 m³/day, water demand is expected to exceed 400,000 m³/day by 2030. Unless measures are taken, the stable supply of water – essential to both citizens’ daily lives and industrial activities – will be severely threatened.

This project aims to systematically expand and develop water supply facilities, including water treatment plants and transmission and distribution networks, in Vientiane, to respond to the pressing current and future water demand. Through this, a system will be established that enables all citizens to have stable access to safe water, while addressing the issue of overcapacity operations and ensuring a stable water supply.

OC Global, through the water treatment plant expansion project, will establish a foundation for the stable and sustainable supply of safe water and support the improvement of public health and living standards in the respective country.