Construction starts on 60.7-million-USD waste-to-energy plant in Gia Lai

With a total investment of nearly 1.6 trillion VND (over 60.7 million USD), the Long My domestic solid waste treatment plant will cover about 10ha, and have a waste treatment capacity of 800 tonnes per day and a power generation capacity of 15 MW.

Delegates press the button to start work on the Long My waste-to-energy plant project in Gia Lai province on June 24. (Photo: VNA)
Delegates press the button to start work on the Long My waste-to-energy plant project in Gia Lai province on June 24. (Photo: VNA)

Gia Lai (VNA) – The construction of a waste-to-energy plant in Quy Nhon Tay ward of Gia Lai began on June 24, marking an important milestone in the central province’s environmental infrastructure development strategy, creating momentum for green growth and the circular economy, and addressing urban waste treatment needs.

With a total investment of nearly 1.6 trillion VND (over 60.7 million USD), the Long My domestic solid waste treatment plant will cover about 10ha, and have a waste treatment capacity of 800 tonnes per day and a power generation capacity of 15 MW.

Scheduled to be put into operation in 2028, the facility is expected to provide a long-term solution to household waste in the eastern part of the province. At the same time, it will generate clean energy from waste, reduce pressure on landfills, save land resources, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resource efficiency in line with the circular economy model.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Tu Cong Hoang said that along with socio-economic development, urbanisation and population growth, household waste treatment has become an increasingly urgent requirement for all localities nationwide.

He stressed that waste management is not merely a matter of waste disposal, but also related to environmental quality, public health, urban aesthetics and sustainable development.

According to the official, Gia Lai has invested in and gradually improved its waste collection, transportation and treatment systems in recent years. However, amid new development requirements, traditional treatment methods are no longer able to fully meet demands in terms of capacity, environmental efficiency and the green and circular economy development as set by the Party and State.

Hoang said the investment in a modern waste treatment facility at this stage will not only meet immediate needs but also establish an environmental infrastructure foundation for future green, smart and sustainable urban development.

The project is being developed at the Long My Waste Treatment Complex, an area that plays an important role in the development orientation of the expanded Quy Nhon urban area, envisioned as the province’s political – administrative, service, tourism, science – technology, artificial intelligence and innovation centre.

The plant will employ MARTIN waste-to-energy incineration technology from Germany, one of the world’s leading technologies in waste treatment and energy recovery.

Under the project design, emissions generated during the incineration process will be treated to meet Vietnam’s stringent environmental regulations and the EU 2010 standards. All leachate and industrial wastewater will be treated to meet Category A standards under current regulations before being fully reused.

Notably, ash and slag generated during the incineration process will be further processed and recycled to recover metals and produce filling materials. This approach is expected to minimise the amount of waste requiring landfill disposal and enhance resource utilisation efficiency in accordance with circular economy principles./.

VNA

See more

An area in Ha Tinh province under water following Storm Megi in October 2010 (Photo: VNA)

Conference delivers hydro-meteorological outlook for 2026

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh, in his speech, said climate change is making weather more severe and unpredictable, with a powerful El Nino set to hit Vietnam in the second half of 2026 and early 2027. Against such backdrop, enhancing forecasting and early warning capacity, while effectively translating scientific information into management decisions and timely response actions, has become urgent, he said.

Truong Sa Lon (Big Spratly) of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

Blue sea, strong economy: Vietnam’s vision for sustainable development

The robust growth of the marine economy has created significant opportunities for Vietnam while at the same time posing major challenges to marine environment protection. From coastal aquaculture areas and renowned tourist bays to marine protected areas rich in biodiversity, traces of plastic waste, land-based pollution and unsustainable exploitation remain visible every day.

Sea dike protection works to deal with the risk of erosion and rising sea levels in Hai Thinh commune, Ninh Binh province. (Photo: VNA)

Law amendments needed to strengthen disaster prevention and response: official

According to the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, natural disasters during the 2020–2025 period caused increasingly serious damage nationwide. On average, natural disasters claimed more than 300 lives each year and caused economic losses exceeding 45 trillion VND (1.7 billion USD), up about 167% compared to the 2015–2019 period.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung chairs a meeting in Hanoi on June 17, 2026 to discuss the draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Environmental Protection. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

Deputy PM identifies three major environmental issues requiring special attention

The pressing concerns comprise persistent environmental hotspots in industrial parks and industrial clusters; increasingly complex air and water pollution in major cities directly affecting public health; and shortcomings in waste management and wastewater treatment across river basins and rural areas that have yet to meet practical requirements.

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam accelerates adoption of sustainable aviation fuel

In Vietnam, airlines, fuel suppliers and energy companies have begun collaborating to deploy SAF on commercial flights, demonstrating that key links in the fuel value chain—from production and supply to operation—are gradually taking shape.

Vietnam's 12 world biosphere reserves underscore commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam's 12 world biosphere reserves showcase commitment to environmental protection, sustainable development

On June 5, 2026, the 38th session of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC 38) officially designated Vietnam's Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park as a member of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). The recognition marks another milestone in the country's conservation efforts, bringing its total number of UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserves to 12.

The rare spot-billed pelicans reappear at Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap province after a six-year absence. (Photo: VNA)

Wildlife protection drive delivers encouraging conservation gains

Implemented under Plan 628, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the campaign marks a shift towards a more coordinated and long-term approach to protecting wildlife and natural resources.

Recognising the maritime economy as one of its strategic pillars, Da Nang city aims to develop into a world-class coastal megacity (Photo: VNA)

Strong maritime nation takes shape through blue future

The vision of a strong maritime nation will be reflected in green ports, offshore wind farms, thriving coastal communities, restored mangrove forests, sustainable coastal cities, resilient island outposts and generations of Vietnamese equipped with ocean knowledge and a deep sense of responsibility for the nation’s maritime future.

A Vietnamese pheasant chick born at Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium (Photo: published by VNA)

Vietnamese pheasants successfully hatched at Belgian zoo

The chicks were born at Pairi Daiza’s Oasis greenhouse following a carefully monitored breeding and care programme. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Vietnamese pheasant is classified as Critically Endangered and may already be extinct in the wild.

An endangered Asian elephant in the wild in the Central Highlands region in Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of Animals Asia)

Conservation project set to protect endangered elephant herds

WWF VN said the non-refundable grant worth 23.9 billion VND (908,000 USD) will help provide conservation and protection solutions for the wild elephant community, including by creating safe migratory corridors, improving habitat and reducing conflict between humans and wildlife.