Businesses Apply Environmental Technologies for Sustainable Development

 

At the conference, delegates pointed out that the world is facing great environment challenges and Vietnam is among the most vulnerable countries. Environmental challenges are threatening the sustainable development of enterprises and the whole economy.

 

Madam Pham Thi Thu Hang, Secretary General of VCCI, said in the current trend, green production, green consumption, environmental friendliness and corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation are inseparable criteria. Resolving environmental issues is one of major concerns of Vietnam. And, finding out solutions and applying new environmental technologies will help businesses effectively reduce investment and operating costs of waste treatment systems. The Green Growth Strategy that the Government of Government has issued also emphasises the role of businesses in addressing current environmental challenges towards development sustainability, she said.

 

Ms Kim Jungju, Technology Executive Director of KEITI, said that Vietnam and South Korea have many cooperation programmes on tackling environmental challenges. This cooperation programme will focus on water treatment technologies. The conference will also open up many opportunities for businesses of the two countries in particular and for the two governments in general.

 

Wastewater treatment technologies in Vietnamese cities are one of issues needed to be addressed immediately. Master of Science, Engineer Nguyen Quoc Cong from Urban Management Faculty, Hanoi Architectural University said only six cities (Hanoi, Ha Long, Danang, Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City) now have centralised wastewater treatment facilities with some 14 stations. Many big cities like Quy Nhon and Nha Trang do not have waste water treatment plants or they are just building. Most domestic wastewater was pre-treated by septic tanks before discharging into sewers and surrounding environments, which cause environmental pollution. This is one of major challenges for environmental managers, planners and enterprises in Vietnam.

 

According to experts at the workshop, wastewater treatment technologies in Vietnam are currently ineffective and yet to address current environmental challenges. South Korea spends a lot on environmental technology research and development. Products of South Korean companies have price advantages and superior features. At this conference, many South Korean firms introduced new technologies and shared their experience on wastewater management and treatment with Vietnamese enterprises.

 

South Korean firms shared many advanced technologies like wastewater treatment in livestock farming; membrane technology; specialised process technology for highly solid, dense and viscid wastes; and organic waste recycling technology. These technologies proved to bring good results like reducing organic waste, land and fuel supplied for operation; reducing 95 per cent of weight by reusing fuel; reducing 65 per cent of energy in comparison with dry process.

 

For example, ARK Co., Ltd, which manufactures and sells water sterilisers, introduced new technologies like ST Sample (water compression and dehydration), RT Sample (dehydration), mobile pre-installed device systems in situ and sludge decomposers. The company’s revenue was more than US$1.2 million from 2011 to 2013.

 

The company also exports its products to five countries, including the United States, Spain and Ireland (earning US$900 million). ARK’s products and technologies feature de-watering equipment for lowly-concentrated input sludge or sludge treatment solutions using heat-generating oil.

 

TSK Water Company Co., Ltd operates, maintains and constructs commercial investment projects for treating and recycling wastewater, purifying water and recovering energy. TSK Water is famous for its leading operation and maintenance skills in waste treatment, water purification and hazardous waste disposal over the past 10 years. TSK Water is successful in expanding business operations and leading of wastewater treatment after joining a joint venture with Taeyoung Group and SK Group.

 

Pure Envitech Co., Ltd introduced small-scaled movable total wastewater treatment system with the cover system using recycled materials, which is used for medium-sized wastewater treatment plants. With the treating efficiency of BOD and SS at a rate of over 98 per cent and the absolute removal of T-N, T-P.D6, the company was granted Patent Certificate No. 10-0552712-00-00 on highly effective separation wall patent applied to advanced wastewater treatment technologies and more than 20 patents related to membrane modules. The company was also known for its engagement in wastewater treatment projects in Goheung-gun and Jeongseon-gun and damage restoration projects in Sendai, Yamagata, Japan.

 

BKT Co.Ltd introduced high-performance processors (biological filtration plus advanced oxidation processes - AOP) to treat nutrients (T-N, T-P) and undetected components. This system is capable of removing over 90 per cent of SCODcr and floating compounds. The company is running a wastewater treatment plant with a daily capacity of 250,000 cubic metres in Jungrang and Qufu wastewater treatment plant in China with a daily capacity of 40,000 cubic metres for water-reused purposes.

 

Additionally, membrane bioreactors (MBR) and small-scaled gravity water supply systems were also presented to Vietnamese companies by leading South Korean firms.

 

To boost connectivity, product exchange and trade cooperation between Vietnamese and South Korean companies, the Organising Committee arranged exciting private meetings for them. Most Vietnamese companies wanted to learn more about products and technologies introduced by South Korean firms. For their parts, South Korean companies hoped to receive stronger support and cooperation of trade from Vietnam in the coming time.