USTDA Sector Brief - Environment

U.S firms possess technologies that offer competitive solutions to environmental issues in developing countries. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is helping to connect these firms with overseas project sponsors, to achieve important objectives in areas such as water treatment, air quality and hazardous waste management.

In fiscal year 2006, USTDA invested in 28 new environmental projects around the world. In addition to water, wastewater and air projects, USTDA has supported numerous power plant conversions from coal to gas, technology upgrades to lower emissions, rail transport projects to reduce road congestion and many other environmentally beneficial initiatives.

Recent USTDA projects in the environmental sector include:

East Asia

China Shanxi Continuous Emissions Monitoring System – USTDA is providing $186,400 to Shanxi Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB) to partially fund analysis on continuous emissions monitoring systems in coal-fired power plants and industrial facilities across Shanxi. The study will assess the improvements mandated by environmental regulations, and will provide information on U.S. technologies for CEMS installation and operation. Thermo Electron is conducting the study.

Shandong Flue Gas Desulphurization – A $515,300 grant is assisting the Shandong Provincial EPB in planning the installation of flue gas desulphurization and particulate control technologies in eight coal-fired power plants. The study aims to assist China in adopting more stringent standards and regulations concerning sulfur dioxide emissions and other particulate matters. PA Government Services is conducting the study.

Han River Non-Point Source Monitoring System and Improvement – USTDA is providing $532,692 to the Changjiang (Yangtze) Water Resources Commission for a study on the creation of an integrated water quality monitoring system in the Han River basin of the Yangtze River. This study is being conducted by the MapTech, Inc., and will provide technical, financial and economic analyses; a pilot demonstration of pollution tracking technology; and develop an implementation plan for system deployment.

Europe and Eurasia

Romania Siret River Basin WATFRAME Project – USTDA provided a $562,080 grant to the Romanian Ministry of Environment and Water Management (MEWM) for a study on a potential pilot project to improve existing and/or develop new drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities for four municipalities in the Siret River Basin region in Romania. Camp Dresser and McKee International of Boston, MA, is conducting the study.

Romania National Environmental Laboratories Project – USTDA awarded a $281,105 grant to MEWM to develop a modernization plan for the Romanian government's network of 43 government environmental laboratories. Louis Berger was selected to complete the study.

Croatia Medical Waste Management Project – USTDA awarded a $105,000 grant to Cian d.o.o., a private Croatian firm, for a study on the development of a new medical waste management system for the Split/Dalmatia region of Croatia. The study will develop detailed plans for the construction of the necessary facilities and the establishment of transportation capacity to safely transport medical waste. The study was completed by Eurasia Environmental Associates.

Russia Water – USTDA provided $344,589 for a study on the rehabilitation of Yaroslavl's water distribution network and construction of a water treatment facility. CH2M Hill of Denver, CO, conducted the study.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Brazil COPASA Water Re-Use Project – A $164,920 grant to the Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais (COPASA) helping to plan a water re-use project at the Arrudas Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will involve adding tertiary treatment capacity to produce an effluent that meets water quality requirements for urban residential, commercial and industrial water needs. Successful implementation of the water re-use project will improve the quality of water treated at the plant, thereby diminishing public health and environmental risks related to unsafe wastewater disposal.

Colombia Ecopetrol Pipeline Safety and Security Project – A $500,000 grant to Ecopetrol S.A. is improving the safety, security, and integrity of Colombia's hydrocarbon pipeline system. Ecopetrol requested a detailed assessment of the system to deploy technological and management solutions to reduce losses and environmental hazards.

Civil Aviation Renewable Energy Project – A $700,000 grant to Colombia's Civil Aviation Special Administrative Unit (AeroCivil) is funding the development of a plan for using renewable energy sources to operate remote radar installations, navigational aids sites, aeronautical communications stations, and aeronautical meteorological stations throughout Colombia. The conversion to renewable energy sources will reduce localized air pollution and pollution caused by diesel spills and is expected to be replicated in other non-connected areas.

Mexico Valsequillo Watershed Clean-up Project – A $797,000 grant is assisting the Secretariat for Urban Development and Public Works of the State of Puebla in carrying out a study of the Valsequillo Watershed Clean-Up Project. The objective is to reverse the ecological degradation of the Valsequillo region and to promote the economic development of the zone.

Middle East and North Africa

Jordan Wastewater Treatment – USTDA is funding a $450,000 grant to the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, acting through the Water Authority of Jordan, to fund early investment analysis on the construction of a wastewater treatment plant to serve the towns west of Salt City in the Balqa'a governorate of Jordan. The study will analyze wastewater collection, treatment and effluent reuse from a number of communities in the project area in order to determine the most appropriate technical solution for a wastewater collection and treatment system.

Yemen Taiz Wastewater Treatment – A $492,000 grant to the Taiz Water and Sanitation Local Corporation is funding a study on a wastewater collection, disposal, and treatment project. The study is analyzing the proposed installation of a new wastewater modernization system that will allow the government to meet the current and future water needs of the City. B&E Engineers is conducting the study.

Morocco Olive Oil Waste Treatment – USTDA awarded a $322,000 grant to fund early investment analysis on a proposed wastewater treatment facility for Moroccan olive oil factories. The study is being performed in an effort to increase the potable water supply in rural communities and to allow Morocco to comply with international environmental regulations. Contractor selection is currently in progress.

South and Southeast Asia

Thailand Wetlands Restoration – USTDA provided $569,944 to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to fund a study on the implementation of an Integrated River and Wetlands Management System (IRWMS) for the Pak Phanang River Basin. This project will help improve wetlands restoration and management in Southern Thailand. URS Corporation is the contractor for this project.

Vietnam Son La Environmental & Management – This $126,000 orientation visit brought 10 officials from Electricity of Vietnam to the United States to familiarize them with U.S. project management and environmental engineering services. The visit helped EVN develop its Son La Hydropower Project with minimal environmental impact, and worked to build trade capacity through the promotion of environmental standards and physical infrastructure planning. Global Marketing & Communications coordinated the visit.

India Diesel Retrofit Project – USTDA provided a $296,000 grant to Pune Municipal Corporation to fund technical assistance to retrofit a subset of local diesel buses with cleaner fuel and innovative emissions control technology. The technical assistance will develop options and protocol for undertaking a larger-scale retrofit program in other cities. The technical assistance will also include training for the stakeholders on the operation and maintenance of the retrofit devices, emissions testing, and quantitative information on costs and emissions reductions of retrofit technologies.

Sri Lanka Sewerage Infrastructure – A $491,000 grant to the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply is funding a study on a proposed piped sewerage and sanitation system in coastal cities affected by the tsunami. The study will develop a preliminary conceptual design for a network with various treatment options. B&E Engineers of Arcadia, CA, is performing the study.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Kenya Lake Victoria South Water/Wastewater – USTDA is providing $358,145 to partially fund a water/wastewater treatment study for the Lake Victoria South area of Kenya on behalf of Kenya's Ministry of Water and Irrigation. Coler & Colantonio, is carrying out the project and is also providing a cost share for this study. The study focuses on defining an appropriate water supply and wastewater management system for the region and beginning the process of commercializing the related infrastructure

Rand Water Services New Technology Implementation – USTDA is providing $246,975 to partially funding a strategic orientation visit on water system technology for five representatives of Rand Water Systems (Pty) Ltd. (RWS) of South Africa. The visit will assist RWS in identifying and evaluating the most appropriate U.S. technologies and applications for the water services sector in Southern Africa. The Cornell Group was selected to organize the visit.

Corniche West Wastewater Treatment – A $418,908 USTDA grant is funding a study on the wastewater collection and treatment facilities for the Corniche West sector in the City of Dakar. Implementing the results of this study and improving sanitation conditions in the City of Dakar is a priority for the grantee, the Office Nationale de l'Assainissement du Senegal ("ONAS"). The study will also encourage U.S. firms to enter the steadily growing environmental sector market in West Africa. The contractor will be selected competitively.

Uganda Jinja-Njeru Public-Private Partnership Water and Wastewater Project – USTDA funded a $414,128 grant for early investment analysis on public-private partnership options for water and wastewater treatment in the Jinja and Njeru municipalities in Uganda. The project may serve as a model for other similar projects throughout the region. The project sponsor is Uganda's Ministry of Water, Lands, and Environment. B & E Engineers was selected to conduct the study.