HCM City produces around 7,600 tonnes of solid waste daily, which is dumped untreated, harming the environment. — VNA/VNS Photo Hưng Thịnh
The US$520 million plant would use plasma arc technology provided by a Canada firm, he said.
Instead of burning or burying rubbish in the traditional manner, a plasma arc system heat the waste at 3,000-7,000 degrees Celsius, converting it into a gas that can be used to produce electricity.
The waste is fed into a chamber and the intense heat of the plasma breaks down organic molecules into their elemental atoms.
The harmless remnants can be used as construction materials.
The plant will be built on a 13ha site at the Phước Hiệp Waste Treatment Zone in the outlying district of Củ Chi.
It can treat 1,000 tonnes of solid domestic wastes a day and 2,000 tonnes of hazardous wastes.
The electricity generated will be sold to the Việt Nam Electricity at US10.05 cents per kWh.
Construction of the plant is scheduled to take 33 months.
The city will pay around $20.63 per tonne of household waste, while for industrial, hazardous and medical wastes, the rate will be negotiated with the company.
The city produces around 7,600 tonnes of solid waste daily, which is dumped untreated.
VietNamNews