Finnish companies keep eye on waste-to-energy projects in Vietnam

According to Saku Liuksia, manager of the waste-to-energy (W2E) and bio-energy program at the Finnish export and investment promotion agency (Finpro), Finland is a leading company in W2E technology which has become an issue of prime concern in Vietnam.

He said that Vietnam has faced many challenges in waste management. Ho Chi Minh City itself emits 8,300 tonnes of waste every day, with 76 per cent of waste being sent to landfill.

"The power shortage and outages happen quite often in the city. Some leading Finnish companies are pioneering in solving both of these issues," said Saku Liuksia.

Finpro led 16 Finnish companies to attend Vietwater 2017. Many companies operating in the field of clean energy in Vietnam have taken further steps, especially in the W2E to address the problem of energy shortage in Vietnam.

"Finland is currently recycling and transforming or 90 per cent of its solid waste into energy for many purposes. We are aiming to stop the remaining landfill in Finland in the next few years, which I would like to see in Vietnam,” said Saku Liuksia.

Mikko Saalasti, a representative of Doranova – a Finnish company specialized in the provision of advanced solutions to the environmental pollution treatment and the W2E, said that one of Doranova's largest projects is located in Vietnam with a US$6 million landfill gas treatment plant located in the outskirt of Ho Chi Minh City. The plant aimed to convert 35,000 tonnes of waste into energy is under construction and expected to come into operation in the next month.

"Our landfill gas plant will assist Vietnam in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Mikko Saalasti.

The leader of Watrec, a company specialized in W2E technology and consultancy services for environmental and energy-related issues, also has regularly visited Vietnam to explore opportunities to develop waste treatment solutions.

"Vietnam is one of the countries that we are prioritizing to develop our waste treatment solutions," said Kimmo Tuppurainen, Watrec’s director of procurement and consultancy services. He said that the W2E project has been implemented in Hanoi. The project is considered as a comprehensive solution in which urban solid waste in Hanoi is collected before being classified and converted into biogas as well as other combustible materials.

"Valmet has actively operated in the filed of W2E to benefit Vietnam, a country that is focusing on developing renewable energy sources," said Matti Miinalainen, a representative of Finnish technology and service company Valmet after attending Vietwater 2017.

"At the same time, we are also focusing on the field of wastewater which has posed many challenges to Vietnam. We look forward to having the opportunity to work with Vietnam in this field in the future," he added.