World Bank approves funds for wastewater treatment regulations in Vietnam

The World Bank has approved financial assistance of $50m to support the enforcement of wastewater treatment regulations in Vietnam’s four most industrialised provinces: Dong Nai, Ba Ria Vung Tau, Nam Dinh and Ha Nam.

The approved loan will be used for the Industrial Pollution Management Project, which aims at managing pollution issues related to industrialisation, and promoting environmental sustainability.

The Industrial Pollution Management Project is supported by many donors and also includes reviewing the legal and regulatory aspects related to the pollution management in the country.

As a part of the project, eight wastewater treatment systems will be constructed in the four provinces, as well as increased monitoring and enforcement of environmental policies.

World Bank Vietnam director Victoria Kwakwa said the environmental risk in Vietnam is a result of insufficient regulations in the country, weak enforcement of the regulations and poor compliance of the industrial wastewater treatment policies.

"It is important that this cycle be broken to promote the greening of Vietnam’s development." Kwakwa added.

The bank is funding the financial assistance through its International Development Association (IDA), which lends funds for low-income countries.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has estimated that the industrial zones in the country are discharging around one million cubic metres of untreated wastewater every day.

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Image:World Bank funding will be used to enforce industrial wastewater treatment regulations in Vietnam. Photo: USDA