VWS thinks in global terms

November 22, 2017 | 09:08

(0) user say

Vietnam Waste Solutions recently welcomed a delegation of Finnish companies to study the performance of and technology within Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex – which promises more collaboration opportunities in the time to come.

Petri Peltonen, Under-Secretary of State at the Finland Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and 15 Finnish companies at Vietnam Waste Solutions’ headquarters

A high-level delegation of 15 Finnish companies led by Petri Peltonen, Under-Secretary of State at the Finland Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, visited Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex on November 10. The delegation paid a working visit to Vietnam to explore the local market, look for investment opportunities in the waste-to-energy sector, and establish contacts with leading companies in the field.

Vietnam Waste Solutions (VWS) is among the leading companies in Vietnam’s waste treatment sector, with technology that complies with US environmental standards for solid waste and leachate treatment. During their visit to the Da Phuoc complex, representatives from Finnish companies expressed interest in collaborating with VWS.

VWS’s director of Operation Kevin Moore introduces the Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex to the under-secretary of state

Kevin Moore, director of Operation of VWS, told the delegation that California Waste Solutions has sent American experts to Vietnam to develop an incineration factory, a wastewater treatment system, and a 12-megawatt power plant at Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex. This investment reaffirms VWS’ commitments to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in upgrading technologies for landfill waste reduction.

VWS plans to treat mixed waste that contains impurities in order to collect organic waste. This waste will be processed at the incineration plant with an output of 1,000-1,500 tonnes per day. Only 5 per cent of the mixed waste will be buried in landfills, most of it will be burned to produce power and compressed natural gas (CNG) for public use, transporting solid waste and producing fluid and compost fertilizers.

To step up its operations, VWS plans to develop transfer stations to link Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex in the city with the Green Technology Park invested by VWS in the southern province of Long An. The firm is exploring the potential areas to build the stations, using barges to connect the complexes which will form a closed system for waste treatment without environmental contamination. They hope to complete this project by 2020.

VWS-4 technologies are introduced to the under-secretary of state

According to Moore, VWS has built a compost fertilizer factory, but there is not enough organic waste to run it. The main reason is that mixed waste is not separated at the source, so more time and effort are needed to isolate the organic waste, which lowers the complex’s operational efficiency.

Waste to bio-gas technology is promising, but it fails to completely treat odour, contributing to atmospheric pollution. Therefore, VWS applies cutting-edge technology to produce CNG, which will be converted into energy to operate the complex as well as to transport solid waste.

As VWS highly values sustainable development, the firm has invested in solutions to ensure the complex operates smoothly, especially when overloaded or during power outages. With this proactive approach, VWS is set to handle a growing volume of waste discharged by urban areas. At peak season, VWS could receive up to 500 garbage trucks per day, equivalent to 10 tonnes of garbage.

Moore pointed out that Ho Chi Minh City has a waste collection company. However, waste treatment fees are only paid for household waste. VWS’ facility can process different types of waste, including hazardous waste, medical waste, industrial waste, and much more. This poses many challenges for VWS in the waste treatment process.

KAWET is impressed by VWS’ technology

Most recently, 42 experts from Korea Association of Waste to Energy Technology (KAWET) visited Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex. Environmental experts from Korea are impressed by the scale and infrastructure of the complex.

The delegation spent much time studying waste treatment systems, from garbage trucks entering the complex to the process that controls the smell. Yongseung Yun, chairman of KAWET, said, “We are impressed by the scale and technology invested by VWS, which is more advanced than that used in California and Korea. The results of this visit will serve as a basis for us to study, evaluate, and plan for investment in Vietnam in the future.”

KAWET was founded in 1996 under Korea’s Ministry of

Environment. The association currently has more than 500 members, including professors, researchers, government members, and engineers from Korean enterprises.

When a large amount of mixed waste is sent to the complex, VWS has to use several technologies with contingency plans. “Our principle is to ensure the operation is absolutely safe. This is the commitment of VWS’ board of directors to Ho Chi Minh City leaders,” Moore said.

According to Huynh Lan Phuong, vice president of VWS, the firm is willing to connect and exchange information with domestic and foreign partners. It has a long-term vision to apply modern technology, promote transparency, and develop sustainably with the community.

After the trip to VWS, Peltonen commented that Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex has applied cutting-edge technology. The firm has brought the latest waste treatment technology to Vietnam, which turns waste into valuable products.

According to Peltonen, Ho Chi Minh City is developing rapidly, so the city should apply state-of-the-art technology to convert waste into power for economic growth. With regards to potential collaboration between Finland and Vietnam in the field, Finnish companies have developed both technology and expertise in the waste treatment industry. “During this trip to Vietnam, the delegation had meetings and discussions with several partners to explore investment opportunities in waste-to-energy and bio-gas technology. I believe that the partnership between VWS and Finnish companies provides more optimal solutions for effective waste treatment and renewable energy,” he added.

Saku Liuksia, Finpro programme manager of Waste to Energy and Bioenergy, said that Vietnam has ample potential for clean energy projects using different types of raw materials, such as urban solid waste, agricultural residue, and wastewater. Finpro has showed a great deal of interest in Vietnam’s waste-to-energy sector in the past two years, so they are aware of all the challenges and potential of the field.

According to Saku, there are also many delegations from Finland to Vietnam to research the market and showcase their technologies. In the time to come, there will be more projects and collaborations between Finnish and Vietnamese companies.