Unbaked brick production encouraged in Vietnam

Thai Nguyen (VNA) – Results and experience from a project on increasing the production and use of non-fired bricks were introduced at a workshop held in the northern province of Thai Nguyen on June 10.

The 2.8 million USD project was funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Construction.

Kicked off in May, 2015, the project included four components: completing policies, enhancing technical capacity for relevant partners, improving financial resources for advanced unbaked brick production technology and multiplying the production technology.

The project is expected to reduce the use of fossil fuel and good quality soil for traditional brick making, thus helping to cut greenhouse gas emission by at least 383,000 tonnes after five-year implementation.

Speaking at the review workshop, Director of the Department of Science and Technology for Economic-Technical Branches Nguyen Dinh Hau affirmed that the project’s target is in line with the GEF’s strategy and Vietnam’s development goals on food security, effective use of energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emission.

He said that the project implementation also satisfies objectives of Vietnamese environment protection strategy, including slashing sources of environmental pollution, improving polluted areas, enhancing local living environment and lessening degradation of natural resources.

Under the project, an unbaked-brick production line was set up and has been operated stably in Luu Xa Cement Company, Thai Nguyen province from December, 2015. About six million standardised bricks were produced and consumed in the locality so far.

Participants at the conference visited the production line and Thai Nguyen Bus Station, which were built from the non-fired bricks.-VNA