The Sóc Sơn waste-to-energy plant is located at the Nam Sơn Waste Treatment Complex in Hà Nội. It is expected to handle 4,000 tonnes of dry solid waste per day. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Nguyên

HÀ NỘI — The Sóc Sơn waste-to-energy (WTE) plant, located at the Nam Sơn Waste Treatment Complex in Hà Nội was connected to the national grid on Monday.

Nguyễn Thị Hồng Vân, general director of market development in Southeast Asia for Thiên Ý Environmental Energy JSC, the project’s investor, said from now until the end of September, the plant would operate an incinerator with a capacity of 800 tonnes of waste daily. It can produce 15MW of electricity for the grid per hour.

The company is finalising procedures to complete the second and third phases of four incinerators. It is expected that all five incinerators will be put into operation this year.

The Sóc Sơn waste-to-energy project was approved by Hà Nội’s authorities in late 2017 with a total investment of VNĐ7 trillion (US$303 million).

Once completed, it will be the largest in Việt Nam with a capacity of handling 4,000 tonnes of dry solid waste per day. The plant is expected to generate up to 75MW of electricity per hour.

According to the Hà Nội Department of Construction, the city currently discharges 6,500-7,000 tonnes of waste every day.

In addition to the Nam Sơn Waste Treatment Complex, there is another waste treatment complex in Sơn Tây District but they are overloaded.

Hà Nội produces around 7,000 tonnes of trash a day, which are mainly processed at these two waste treatment complexes. Until now, they were mostly buried or turned into fertilizer, with a very small portion being burnt to produce electricity.

The capital city has been facing serious waste handling problems. Scenes of trash overflowing the streets left uncollected for days have recurred in recent years.

According to the city's master plan for 2030, Hà Nội will have 17 waste treatment zones. However, many have been delayed due to obstacles relating to site clearance. — VNS