HCMC seeks solutions for urban wastewater treatment

Ho Chi Minh City and the Netherlands continue cooperation in water management and wastewater treatment through two infrastructure projects.

This was shared by Ho Chi Minh City Vice Chairman Hoang Nguyen Dinh during a meeting with Ms. Hanna Pors, Deputy Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City; Ms. Sylvie Sprangers, Regional Director for Southeast Asia; and Ms. Lisa Van Der Biezen, Viet Nam Project Director at Invest International, on September 28.

According to Ms. Hanna Pors, Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, the two sides have a history of cooperation in water management, climate change adaptation, flood risk management and wastewater treatment. The Netherlands wishes to continue sharing its experience and supporting Ho Chi Minh City in addressing bottlenecks to facilitate project implementation.

Among these initiatives, the Di An - Thuan An - Tan Uyen Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Project - Phase II is identified as the next step in completing the wastewater treatment system in an area experiencing rapid urbanization and industrial development.

Previously, the area received more than EUR 12.26 million in grant funding from the Dutch Government through the ORIO program to implement a drainage and wastewater treatment project. The system is now in operation, providing a foundation for further investment studies for Phase II.

For the next phase, Invest International has committed to providing technical assistance through the DRIVE-TA Program. The support, estimated at around EUR 1 million, will focus on preparing the legal, technical, environmental and financial conditions, as well as the institutional arrangements required for the investment phase.

According to Ms. Lisa Van Der Biezen, Viet Nam Project Director at Invest International, preparing all necessary conditions from the outset is important for project implementation, particularly for large-scale environmental infrastructure projects that require coordination among multiple agencies. Meanwhile, the Phú Mỹ New Urban Area Water Collection, Treatment and Drainage System Project is entering a transition phase from investment to operation and maintenance.

The project has a total investment of more than VND 818.4 billion, including approximately VND 251.86 billion in non-refundable ODA from the Dutch Government and around VND 565.78 billion in counterpart funding. The wastewater treatment plant and Collection Basins 1 and 2 have completed key components and are ready to be handed over for operation once the required procedures are completed.

The implementation of the two projects shows that the challenge is not only securing investment capital, but also ensuring comprehensive preparation in terms of legal, technical, environmental and financial requirements, as well as operational arrangements. These were among the key issues discussed by the two sides to ensure that the projects can move forward to the next stages.

Ho Chi Minh City Vice Chairman Hoang Nguyen Dinh said the city is paying attention to both projects and will direct relevant agencies and units to coordinate in addressing difficulties and obstacles and accelerating implementation. Continued cooperation with the Netherlands in water management and wastewater treatment is part of the city’s efforts to improve environmental infrastructure, respond to pressures from urbanization, and strengthen Ho Chi Minh City’s capacity to adapt to water-related and climate change challenges.

$ 1 = VND 26,160  - Source: Vietcombank.

Ha Duyen