Slow implementation of waste-to-energy projects

In Dong Nai province, many waste-to-energy projects have been planned, but none of them have started construction. This is one of the reasons for the increasing waste congestion, while there is no renewable energy from waste.

Quang Trung waste treatment area (Gia Kiem commune) is planned to implement a 7.5MW waste incineration power generation project. Photo: Hoang Loc

Developing waste-to-energy is one of the solutions to improve the effectiveness of environmental protection, create clean electricity sources, and contribute to realizing the goal of developing a circular and sustainable economy .

Many projects have been planned.

According to the National Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (Power Plan VIII) and the Plan of Dong Nai Province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Dong Nai Province (old) has 4 waste-to-energy projects. Of which, the largest is the Waste-to-Energy Plant Project in Tan An Commune, with a capacity to process 1,200 tons of waste/day and a power generation capacity of 30MW. The project was approved by the Provincial People's Council in 2022, with the goal of starting construction in 2023 and completing after about 3 years. In addition, the province has allocated land for the project and calculated the input waste source, but so far, no investor has been selected.

Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh, Director of the Project Management Board of the joint venture between Le Delta Joint Stock Company and Ecotech Vietnam Technology Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company (the unit that prepared the feasibility study report) said: The reason for the delay is that the process of preparing and adjusting the detailed 1/500 planning takes a long time; we have to wait for the commune's construction planning to be adjusted to add a power generation connection line. This leads to a prolonged process of completing the environmental impact assessment report and document appraisal.

Currently, the province generates about 2,600 tons of garbage per day. Of which, more than 2,100 tons (about 79%) are collected and treated according to regulations, the rest have not been collected and treated according to regulations. In addition, the province also has 22 temporary landfills with a volume of more than 460,000 tons.

The remaining projects include: Waste-to-energy plant at Tuc Trung Treatment Area (La Nga commune), with a processing capacity of 700-1,000 tons/day and a power generation capacity of 18.5MW. W2E Dong Nai Waste-to-energy Plant (Long Phuoc commune), with a processing capacity of 1,500 tons of waste/day and a power generation capacity of 30MW and Waste-to-energy plant at Quang Trung Waste Treatment Area (Gia Kiem commune), with a processing capacity of 400-600 tons of waste/day and a power generation capacity of 7.5MW. All three projects are in the process of completing investment procedures.

In the old Binh Phuoc province, there is the Tan Hung - Hon Quan Waste-to-Energy Plant Project (Tan Hung commune), with a minimum processing capacity of 300 tons of waste/day and a power generation capacity of 7.5MW (with the possibility of expanding to 15MW). The project has been approved for investment and is carrying out procedures related to land and investment.

Mr. Tran Anh Dung, General Director of Sonadezi Services Joint Stock Company, the investor of Quang Trung Waste Treatment Area, said: The company's waste incineration power generation project has completed all planning procedures. The company has researched and worked with many domestic and foreign partners to choose suitable technology; at the same time, surveyed projects that have been implemented in Hanoi, Can Tho, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong. However, the project has not been implemented yet due to 4 reasons. Specifically, the input waste source needs to be guaranteed to be stable, enough for the factory to operate for at least 20-25 years and have enough time to recover capital. The output product is electricity that is sold 100% after being used at the factory. There needs to be a unit price for waste treatment using waste incineration power generation technology so that the company can calculate investment efficiency. In addition, the company proposed to enjoy preferential loan interest rates, access to financial support programs and international aid for the project.

"If the Provincial People's Committee supports us in resolving the above four obstacles, we can implement and complete the project within two years from the date of approval," said Mr. Dung.

Improve environmental protection efficiency

Waste-to-energy incineration is one of the modern technological solutions that helps treat waste, create clean energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing landfills. For Dong Nai province, the implementation of these projects, in addition to the above-mentioned purposes, is also in line with the province's orientation for sustainable, circular economic development.

Mr. Tran Trong Toan, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: The progress of implementing waste-to-energy plant projects, including new projects and technology conversion projects at existing treatment areas, is still slow, failing to meet the increasing demand for domestic waste treatment. According to Mr. Toan, investors need to be more proactive in coordinating with departments, branches, and localities to complete procedures on planning, land, investment, construction, and environment to implement projects in the period from now to 2030.

In particular, for the Tan Hung - Hon Quan Waste-to-Energy Plant Project, the Department of Agriculture and Environment will work with the Vietnam Rubber Industry Group to promptly guide and support the completion of land records and appraisal of environmental licensing records. For the Dinh Quan Waste-to-Energy Plant Project, the Department of Finance will guide the preparation of records to adjust the investment policy for the pumping station and raw water supply pipeline. The Tan An Commune Waste-to-Energy Plant Project needs to soon complete the feasibility study report to bid for investor selection.

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang emphasized: Waste-to-energy incineration projects have special significance in the sustainable development strategy of Dong Nai province, contributing to thoroughly treating household waste while creating a clean energy source, reducing pressure on the environment. Therefore, the Provincial People's Committee requested departments, branches, localities and investors to coordinate closely and promptly remove obstacles to speed up the implementation progress. When completed, the projects will help reduce the burden on waste treatment, improve environmental protection efficiency, and bring the province closer to the goal of building a green economy, sustainable development and environmental friendliness.

In the Project on Carbon Emission Reduction for the period up to 2030, with a vision to 2050 issued by the Provincial People's Committee in early 2024, the environment is one of the 7 priority areas for research and implementation of greenhouse gas emission reduction. The province's goal by 2030 is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, by 2035 by 45%, towards carbon neutrality by 2045 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The Resolution of the 1st Provincial Party Congress, term 2025-2030 also sets the target that by 2030, the rate of solid waste collected and treated to standards will be 97% for urban areas and 90% for rural areas. To achieve this goal, the province needs to synchronously deploy solutions, including promoting the application of modern technology in waste treatment, minimizing the landfill rate, and ending the backlog of waste due to overloading capacity at existing factories.

Hoang Loc

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202511/cham-trien-khai-cac-du-an-dien-rac-f3422e2/