Wivey firm sets sights on Far East (From Somerset County Gazette)

Wivey firm sets sights on Far East

3:52pm Tuesday 18th September 2007

• Print
• Email
• Share

A WIVELISCOMBE company whose green expertise is behind some of the region's most enterprising environmental projects has now set its sights on the Far East.

Aardvark EM has opened an office in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh from where it will provide technical and advisory services for both government and privately-funded environmental projects.

Headed by Michael Horton, the new office has attracted a number of environmental experts from the UK keen to work on short commission contracts overseas.

The company's decision to extend its operations to the Far East comes at a time when Cambodia's infrastructure in coming under increasing pressure due to a sharp rise in tourist numbers.

Aardvark EM managing director Mark Clayton said: "Over the past 18 months we've been working on a number of projects in Cambodia, specifically in the areas of waste water and solid waste management engineering.

"It became painfully obvious that, particularly in the Siem Reap province, the growing popularity of Cambodia as a tourist destination means existing buildings, water and waste treatment facilities simply aren't equipped to cope."

Pollution and overflowing-landfill sites are becoming serious issues but Mark Clayton is up beat about the Cambodian government's desire to address these in an environmentally sound and sustainable way.

"Having already been involved in some fairly substantial and successful environmental projects it was a logical step for us to establish a more permanent presence."

Back home, Aardvark is involved with water, waste, energy and environmental projects for clients including ROK, Costains, Summerfield Developments, XFab, JLT and British Airports Authority (BAA).

It is using Aardvark's mobile reedbed system - originally developed in the South-West and short listed for this year's Business Commitment to the Environment Awards - to treat waste water at Heathrow Airport.

• Print
• Email
• Share