ScottishPower has been chosen as preferred bidder for two planned wastewater disposal centres serving most of Glasgow, to be built and run under the Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

West of Scotland Water (WoSWA) expects the Sewage Sludge Treatment Centres at Daldowie and Shieldhall to be operational by 2000. They will help WoSWA meet European Union directives designed to end the disposal of sewage sludge at sea.

The plants will dry and process the sludge into bulk pellets which can be burned with coal in one of ScottishPower's generating stations. The plants will process around 65,000 tonnes of sludge a year.

Duncan Whyte, ScottishPower's Executive Director - Multi Utility, said:

"We have combined the acquired skills in wastewater treatment from Southern Water with our own extensive local asset base in Scotland. The community as a whole will benefit from a highly efficient form of waste disposal which will also help generate electricity in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way."

The total value of water-related PFI projects in Scotland is estimated at £1 billion over the next decade. ScottishPower, which is currently short-listed for a number of other wastewater projects, aims to win a further share of these."

The Daldowie and Shieldhall bids were lodged by SMW, comprising ScottishPower, the Miller Group and Wabag Water Engineering. SMW is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ScottishPower group.

Further Information:
Colin McSeveny,            ScottishPower Press Office          0141 248 8200