Source: Global Times
Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" article on December 22, titled: "Chinese Waste Incineration Plants Are Going to Southeast Asia to 'Find Garbage'". In recent years, more and more Chinese waste incineration power generation companies have explored new paths: going to Southeast Asia to "find garbage".
On one hand, waste incineration power generation is a massive industry in China. Official data shows that China has over 1,000 waste incineration plants, with a daily processing capacity exceeding 11 million tons. On the other hand, in Southeast Asia, countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, which traditionally relied on landfill, are increasingly demanding more modern and environmentally friendly waste disposal methods like waste incineration power generation, opening up new market space for Chinese enterprises.
A representative of a Chinese waste incineration power generation company said that the company has accelerated its layout in Southeast Asia since 2023, and out of its 12 overseas projects, 9 are located in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, all of which are under construction.
South-east Asia has become the preferred choice for many Chinese waste incineration power generation companies, mainly because the local lifestyle and culture are similar to those in China. The company's representative said that the composition of waste in Southeast Asia is similar to that in China, whereas the technology and equipment of European, American, and Japanese companies may be slightly unsuitable for Southeast Asian conditions.
At the same time, some Southeast Asian countries are increasing policy support for foreign investment in waste incineration projects. For example, in Indonesia, the local government announced in October this year that it intends to promote waste incineration power generation projects in 33 cities, inviting both domestic and international investors to participate in construction.
According to an incomplete statistics by the Chinese solid waste industry website "China Solid Waste Network", in the first five months of this year, more than 10 Chinese companies obtained 16 waste incineration projects overseas. In addition to Southeast Asia, Central Asia is also becoming a popular market for Chinese companies to go global.
The ways in which these waste incineration companies are established overseas are diverse, including building in joint ventures with local companies, providing design, procurement, and construction contracting solutions, or only providing key equipment and technology.
The reason why Chinese companies' plans are very attractive in Southeast Asian countries is not only because modern incineration technology can alleviate environmental pollution caused by landfills, but also because the design of incineration power plants is more aesthetically pleasing and thoughtful. More practically, the planning of these waste incineration plants integrates community functions, including basketball courts, charging stations, welfare facilities, etc., and related companies frequently hold community and public welfare activities.
For Southeast Asian countries facing the imminent exhaustion of landfill capacity, the waste incineration energy conversion solutions provided by Chinese enterprises offer them a way to alleviate their difficulties. (Author Lin Zhan Ting)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7586813709889880582/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.