Keppel corporates with FiCO Pan-United and Coteccons to explore sustainable concrete solutions

The solutions include ready-mix mortar and other innovative architectural materials and construction methodologies utilising 3D printing in The Infiniti, the third phase of Keppel’s Riviera Point residential development. This could be scaled up and extended to other phases of the Riviera Point development.

Representatives from FiCO PanU, Keppel Ltd., and Coteccons signed the MoU at the event

As part of this collaboration, Keppel will be the first real estate company in Vietnam to incorporate sustainable concrete solutions via CO₂ Mineralised Concrete (CMC) technology, which enables the embodied carbon to be reduced at the construction stage.

The superstructure of The Infiniti will incorporate CMC technology, which introduces captured CO₂ into fresh concrete to remove 1,241 tonnes of embodied carbon, without compromising the performance of the concrete.

In March 2024, the mass foundations for The Infiniti were completed using a specialised Very Low-Carbon concrete, which reduced a total of 1,562 tonnes of embodied carbon emissions at that stage, compared to the use of conventional concrete.

FiCO PanU estimates that on completion, The Infiniti, including its superstructure, would remove 2,803 tonnes of embodied carbon compared to using conventional materials. This is estimated to be equivalent to carbon sequestered by 46,348 tree seedlings grown over 10 years.

Lee Leong Seng, head of Property Development/Residential, Real Estate (Vietnam), Keppel Ltd. and general director of Riviera Point LLC, said, as a longstanding investor in Vietnam, Keppel is committed to advancing the country’s sustainable development.

Steven Loh, general director of FiCO PanU, said that this milestone collaboration attests to the strong and longstanding relationship the company has built with Keppel and Coteccons for over a decade since it entered the market in Vietnam in 2011.

“We have a shared commitment towards the sustainable building of Vietnam’s city skyline, and to strongly support Vietnam in achieving its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The innovative use of CMC technology spearheads a new dimension in Vietnam’s built environment industry to remove and reduce carbon emissions before a development project is completed,” said Loh.

Nguyen The Phu, managing director at Coteccons, said that Coteccons is firmly committed to implementing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles throughout its entire value chain.

“We actively implement a range of ESG solutions, from utilising renewable energy sources and minimising carbon emissions, and applying the 3R model (reduce, reuse, recycle) at our offices and construction sites,” Phu said.

This dedication extends beyond its own operations and encompasses partners and subcontractors that share a commitment to environmental protection and provide sustainable products and services that meet the exacting standards of environmentally conscious companies like Keppel.

“By prioritising ESG principles and fostering collaboration with like-minded partners, Coteccons is proud to contribute to a more sustainable future for the construction industry,” said Phu.

The Infiniti features a biophilic design which seamlessly weaves the elements of nature into its architecture and layout. It offers the largest private water playground amidst a lush Hawaiian-inspired landscape in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City. The Infiniti, as part of the Riviera Point development, has received the Green Mark Gold certification from the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore and the Green Property Award at the Vietnam Outstanding Property Awards 2023.

Representatives of three sides at the commitment ceremony at the event.

Keppel Ltd. is a global asset manager and operator with strong expertise in sustainability-related solutions spanning the areas of infrastructure, real estate and connectivity. Headquartered in Singapore, Keppel operates in more than 20 countries worldwide, providing critical infrastructure and services for renewables, clean energy, decarbonisation, sustainable urban renewal, and digital connectivity.

Investment opportunities open in Vietnam's green real estate market As Vietnam continues to undergo rapid urbanisation, underpinned by economic growth and an expanding middle class, coupled with the improvement in infrastructure networks, the country continues to offer tremendous opportunities for investors, according to Wong Wai Foo, head of Sustainable Urban Renewal in Vietnam, Keppel Corporation, at the Sustainable Development 2023 conference held by Vietnam Investment Review on November 16.

Well-positioned to capture growth opportunities in Vietnam The global operating environment was challenging in 2023, with geopolitical conflicts, slow global growth, high interest rates, and extreme climate events. The Vietnamese economy, including its domestic real estate market, was not immune to these challenges.