$450m green technology park planned for Long An

CWS/VWS leaders introduce the project. Photo VNA

Planned by Vietnam Waste Solution, Inc. (VWS), the park will cover some 1,760 hectares at a cost of US$450 million and the capacity to treat 40,000 tonnes of waste per day.

The project will be carried out in three phases, with the first spanning from 2015 to 2020 and focusing on daily solid waste treatment in HCM City and Long An province, which will then be expanded to key southern economic zones and their vicinities after 2020.

From 2020-2025, the project will continue to build and develop waste treatment and recycling areas, as well as environmental technology research and training.

After 2025, the company will complete the construction of waste treatment and residential areas for workers and experts.

Speaking at the licence granting ceremony on September 12, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Do Huu Lam asked VWS to ensure adequate environmental protection during the implementation of the project.

He said the project was part of the Master Plan for Development of Solid Waste Treatment for focal economic zones of the Northern, Central and Southern regions to 2020. This was approved by the Prime Minister in October 2008.

The huge environmental project is located on an area of lowland mostly used to grow cajuput trees.

"The successful implementation of the project will significantly contribute to the environmental treatment in the Southern region in general and HCM City and Long An in particular. It will also contribute to the State coffers and help boost the province's sustainable development targets," said Lam.

CEO of the California Waste Solution, Inc. (CWS) and VWS David Duong said the green tech park is the second project being built by the CWS/VWS in Viet Nam, following the success of the Da Phuoc integrated waste management facility in HCM City.

He pledged to begin construction as soon as possible.

"This year is the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Viet Nam, and the Green Technology Park project is yet another example of the growing relationship between our two countries," said Nathan Lane, Economic Officer at the US Consulate General in HCM City during the license granting ceremony.

Duong, a Vietnamese American, established CWS in 1991. The company won the first contract, worth tens of millions of dollars, for building waste collection facilities for Oakland, California.

His company has also won a contract worth more than $1 billion to recycle waste in Oakland for 20 year, starting from July 1.

CWS took 37th place in Waste Age magazine's ranking of the top 100 American companies in the waste transportation and treatment industry.