VietNamNet Bridge - HCMC needs at least 12 waste water treatment plants to deal with the large volume of domestic waste water daily. However, it is difficult to call for private investments in the sector.


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HCMC needs at least 12 waste water treatment plants




Under the plan approved by the PM in 2010, HCMC needs waste water treatment plants for 12 areas namely Tau Hu-Ben Nghe, Tay Sai Gon, Tan Hoa-Lo Gom, Nam Sai Gon, Dong Sai Gon, Bac Sai Gon 2, Bac Sai Gon 1, Tham Luong Ben Cat, Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe, Binh Tan, Rach Cau Dua and Tay Bac.

However, to date, only a few of them have been built and operational, mostly with the state’s capital or ODA. These include the 141,000 cm3 waste water treatment plant in Binh Chanh and in Binh Hung Hoa (30,000) which partially helps settle pollution in Tau Hu-Ben Nghe area.

In other areas, since there is still no treatment plant, domestic waste water still goes through sewers to reach canals and rivers.

In 2012, a sewer system was built in Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe area, collecting waste water from districts 1, 3, Phu Nhuan, Go Vap and Tan Binh to help the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal become ‘greener’. However, as the waste water treatment plant has not been built, the waste water finally reaches the Sai Gon River. 

As the city’s budget is limited, the municipal authorities have called on private investors to pour money into waste treatment projects. There are five priority projects expected to be developed under the PPP mode.

There is a waste water treatment plant in Tham Luong-Ben Cat area, 130,000 cubic meters per day, built by Phu Dien Construction & Trade and Hoang Gia Securities in 2017, but it cannot operate because of the lack of a sewer system which collects waste water

As the city’s budget is limited, the municipal authorities have called on private investors to pour money into waste treatment projects. There are five priority projects expected to be developed under the PPP mode.

According to experts, the investment rate for a 100,000 cubic meter per day plant is $200 million.

Of the five projects, the 150,000 cubic meter Tay Sai Gon project with estimated investment capital of VND7.7 trillion has attracted investors, including well known names Wontert Capital Fund from the US, Sai Gon Thuong Tinn Real Estate and BPA Group.

Meanwhile, the 180,000 cubic meter Binh Tan waste water treatment project is being eyed by Hoa Phong-Terran Projects Ltd, Phu Dien-SFC Vietnam and Samsung.

According to the HCMC Anti-flood Program Operating Center, which is assigned to manage waste water treatment plants, the local authorities began calling for investments in the projects in 2012, but a lot of projects still cannot be implemented.

A senior official of the center said the complicated procedures are one of the reasons behind the investors’ reluctance.  The required huge investment rate also made them shrink back.


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Mai Lan