Dam Experts Meet
in Daejeon

K-water holds gathering to show Korea's dam technology, cooperation

Korea Water Resources Corp.(President Kwak Kyul-ho) held the 3rd East Asia Dam Conference from Oct.16-21 in Daejeon which included a symposium, a tour of dams and observation of dam technology in a number of cities in the country including Seoul, Yechon, Gyeongju, and Jeju.
The meeting took place as a result of an agreement among Korea, Japan and China to hold a meeting of dam experts from three countries every year during the International Conference of Large Dams Seoul conference in October, 2004. Dam experts from the three countries agreed that the annual meeting should be held to exchange dam technology and promote friendship among them. The first meeting took place in China in 2004 and the second one in Japan in 2005.
At this year's meeting were some 100 dam expert from China and Japan, along with 200 from Korea, totaling some 300 altogether taking parts in the meeting.
At the symposium held at Riviera Hotel in Daejeon,
notable dam experts made presentations on such topics as "Sustainable Dam Technology for the Future,"and "Sediment Management, Dam Rehabilitation, Social and Environment Effects of Dams,"and a round of discussions followed the presentations.
The participants toured Imha Dam, Yechon Dam pumped water dam, Shihwa tidal dam, Daechong Dam, and Chonggye Dam and related facilities to learn about Korea's dam operation technology and promote friendship among dam technicians.
In the meantime, K-water accelerated its exports of technology services to foreign countries including Equatorial Guinea and Cambodia.
On Sept. 6, K-water signed an agreement to provide technical services for running the tap water system in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea for 4.28 million Euro or about 5.3 billion won in Korean won currency, which will provide tap water service to residents of the city for the first time in their lives.
With the agreement, Korea was able to advance into the African country, which is called, "Kuwait in Africa"as the country is the third largest oil producer in Africa,
which will be a bridgehead for Korea to make advances into the countries around Equatorial Guinea.
K-water, on the other hand, signed an agreement to set up a comprehensive water resources development plan for Cambodia on Sept. 6 in cooperation with the Korea International Cooperation Agency. K-water will provide advanced technologies for management of water resources for Cambodia until September, 2008, based on the plan and detailed implementation of the plan to be drawn up during the period.
The agreement resulted from the economic cooperation agreement between Korea and Cambodia signed when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visited Seoul March 22 and is the first one undertaken by the Korean government under its plan to provide technical assistances for the comprehensive economic and land development plans to be drawn up by developing countries.
Under the agreement which provides for the government's assistance program, K-water will undertake the first project designed to prevent drought and flood in Cambodia at the same time. It is also expected to contribute to mutual exchange in water resources sector and economic cooperation between Korea and Cambodia.
K-water has been undertaking 9 water related projects in 8 countries including the tap water system modernization project in Arbil, Iraq and the hydro-electric dam project in India. The company is in talks with Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and China to win further projects as part of its effort to export water management technology to the world.
Equatorial Guinea has 500,000 population, situated on the coast of Atlantic Ocean, the Mid-western part of Africa. The tap water system project will take about 3 years to be completed including the training of local technicians to operate the system. Cambodia has some 13 million population with per capita income of $310. The project to cost some $13 million is to be provided free of charge for the development of the country's water resources management to help develop its economy. nw

Dam experts from Korea, China and Japan attend a symposium.

President Kwak Kyul-ho of Korea Water Resources Corp.

President Kwak Kyul-ho of Korea Water Resources Corp. delivers the opening speech at the 3rd East Asia Dam Conference Oct. 16-21 in Daejeon.