China sediment issues
Sediment dam Issue
SEDIMENT ISSUES IN CHINA 中国 沉淀
China’s 12th five years plan (2011-2015)
Sludge treatment and proper disposal is a key priority of the China’s 12th five years plan (2011-2015).
Today, majority of the sludge is not properly treated and caused various environmental incidences and public health and sanitation issues.
China’s 12th five years plan (2011-2015) puts sludge treatment and proper disposal as one of the key priorities in the environmental protection industry with favorite policies and guidelines for technology and engineering providers to tackle the market.
On 2012, SEDIGATE-ARD & PANEUROCHINA industry had established a group of economic interest, the GIE-SEDIMENTS CHINA – SOUTH EAST ASIA that involves others companies in this sector for the launching of joint actions in a way to win contracts.
In addition, SEDIGATE-ARD & PANEUROCHINA has signed a cooperation agreement with the Yangtze Delta Region Research Institute of Tsinghua University the official Chinese body that is in charge of the setting up of all appreciable technological cooperation in a way to provide efficient solutions to the sediment accumulation all over China mainly in the port, sea shore and dam’s areas.
Sediment issue
CHINA SEDIMENT TASK FORCE GOALS
CSTF combines an expertise in environmental monitoring and project modeling through a precise appreciation of the needs of the considered areas according with their development.
CSTF is designed to produce a challenging and long-term vision (30-100 years) for the future of rivers and coastal activities in the whole of China.
The main priority is to develop common standards for monitoring the China environmental issues.
STUDIES CONDUCTED TO DATE
- Sediment ITgium engineering technology (uptodate)
- China coastal & estuaries sediment issue (2012)
- Chinese sediment potential market (2012)
- Wenzhou Airport sediment issue (2012)
- The Wenzhou airport area engineering sediments analysis issue (2013)
- How to resolve the sediment issue of the sānxiá dàbà 三峽大 壩 ? (2013)
- The yellow river sediment issue (2014)
Nemeau
CHINA JV PROJECT
At a long run, our project is to setup SEDIGATE ARD in China through a joint venture agreement with a Chinese company involved in this sector.
The JV five main objectives :
(a) Valuation of a global expertise upon sediment management and valorization issues throughout China mainland ;
(b) Manufacture of the Nemeau (dehydration equipment) in China ;
(c) Sediment Engineering works (with the Neneau)
CHINESE SEDIMENT POTENTIAL MARKET
China sediment data
Coastal areas of the People’s Republic of China comprise an area of approximately 346,983 square kilometers with an 18,000 kilometers coastline (China’s coastal zone is defined as an area 10 kilometers inland and 15m isobath seaward from the mean high water tide line).
China river setting includes more than 1,500 rivers each drain 1,000 sq km or larger areas so a global considered area of 1 500,000 square kilometers.
|
China Potential Dredged materials |
|
|
Estimates 2012 |
Million m3 |
| Seaports coastline |
500 |
| Estuary & Rivers |
1000 |
| Dams |
1500 |
Segment
In outer harbors, estuaries and dam’s areas, accumulations or rejections of waste and sand constitute an ungrateful material called “sludge” or sediment.
Sometimes, the massive presence of this one contributes to alter the traffic of the boats through the channels and to cut down the hydroelectric potential power of the dam plant.
In addition, sludge tends to concentrate heavy metals and poorly biodegradable trace organic compounds as well as potentially pathogenic organisms (viruses, bacteria, etc.) present in wastewaters. Sludge untreated could represent a real danger for environment and could severely damage the ecosystem because sedimentary evolution remains unknown.
Today, ports, estuaries or dams future depends on sediment solutions management and treatment.
In addition, because of an increasingly shortage of aggregates from quarries, sludge constitutes a “renewable and accessible resource”, an alternative.
Dredging sediment
Significant market
National financial sources expect overall construction output to grow around 9 % in 2012.
Long-term prospects remain quite positive.
The Chinese building materials market is pulled out by the local construction sector. This one has been growing by 10/15% these last five years and this growth can be explained in particular by large investments in infrastructures, partly related with the development of the under developed zones in China midlands and the dramatic development of the coastal zones.
This market would well welcome economical building materials, in particular in its public component.
The building materials resulting from the sea’s mud would thus have a competitive edge without equivalent: indeed simulations show a production cost from 10 to 20 % lower than other materials!
50 million tons of sea’s mud would then be extracted, according to the Chinese Ministry of Industry. The potential market is thus very vast, estimated at USD 15 billion by 2020.
Two figures :
Road infrastructures: +15% – programme 2012/2020
Equipment in the development areas: +20% – programme 2012/2020
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Key priority in China
Sludge treatment and proper disposal, key priority of the China’s 12th five year plan (2011-2015).
Sewage sludge treatment and disposal is far behind the development of wastewater treatment in China. Majority of the sludge is not properly treated and caused various environmental incidences and public health and sanitation issues.
From 2011 on, China’s 12th five year plan (2011-2015) puts sludge treatment and proper disposal as one of the key priorities in the environmental protection industry with favorite policies and guidelines for technology and engineering providers to tackle the market.
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Clients
(a) Typology of potential customers
Privately-owned construction companies (around 10 000), scattered all along the Chinese territory.
State-owned companies : harbor infrastructures, logistics, ports dredging, municipalities, etc those ones focusing on large public markets as the ones as following infrastructure, schools, and administration buildings.
Aggregates, asphalt and related services are sold principally to local governmental authorities and to contractors; while ready mixed concrete and concrete products (manufactured mainly at locations with aggregates on site and including block, masonry, pipe, roof tiles and precast concrete flooring) are sold to both the public and private construction sectors.
(B) Purchasing process
Construction companies’ owners, CEOs or general managers are the decision-makers. The process will be longer in state-owned companies where there are also political reasons involved. Anyway, the top management will rely on :
The people in charge of technical issues in the company. These people will be convinced by tests results.
Their feeling about their own market acceptance.
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(C) End market acceptance
We have also studied the construction companies’ final market acceptance regarding this new technology.
Test studies undertaken in Chinese towns – Beijing, Chengdu, Dalian and Shenyang – have shown that Chinese parties declared themselves ready to use bricks for houses and buildings, mainly for cost reasons.
The public sector would accept bricks made with sediment because of the price difference.
Real Estate companies would welcome products made with sea muds as long as they can diminish their cost price, which is the case. They will pay attention to the house aspect and prices. They will also rely on their own customers’ product acceptance.
Individuals and businesses are ready to use products made with sea muds, as long as their aspect is acceptable and the price difference justifies it.
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Technological competitive advantage
The use of sea mud as raw material in the manufacturing process would make it possible to lower the production costs from 10 to 20%.
In addition, even if the cost depends on the sea mud quality, this one is very competitive compared to the incineration, composting or rubbish costs (10 to 20% approximately).
The industrial production of embankment materials based on sea mud can cut usual costs by 10%.
Example : Bohai Xinchu National Plan
Under the Bohai Xinchu National Development Plan, the allocation of government funding for public infrastructure programs is significant in the Tianjin area.
For the financial years 2010 / 2015, the municipality of Tianjin has affected a budget of an amount of 8 billion of Yuan for the realization of the infrastructures necessary to the implementation of all industrial activities related with the sea mud exploitation.
HARBOR DIRECT INVESTMENT 2012-201
Tianjin ISSUE
Only in Tianjin, city of Northern China, the harbor authorities have dedicated a surface of 20 square kilometers in the front harbor to carry out a huge sea muds’ extraction and processing programmed. In the project’s preamble concerning Tianjin’s front harbor, sea muds building materials have been mentioned.
Indeed, if tapping sea muds seem relevant, it has not yet integrated a complete industrial process.
According to the economic section of China Daily News, 1 billion yuans should be invested within three years.
Road materials market (Northern China only)
|
Items |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
||||
|
Quantity (tons) |
Market (US $/1 M) |
Quantity (tons) |
Market (US $/1 M) |
Quantity (tons) |
Market (US $/1 M) |
Quantity (tons) |
Market (US $/1 M) |
|
| Road’s embankment |
100 000 |
85 |
160 000 |
180 |
300 000 |
360 |
500 000 |
600 |
| Sidewalks |
50 000 |
55 |
80 000 |
75 |
100 000 |
90 |
130 000 |
110 |
| Others |
100 000 |
85 |
160 000 |
180 |
300 000 |
360 |
500 000 |
600 |
|
Total |
250 000 |
225 |
400 000 |
435 |
700 000 |
810 |
1 130 000 |
1 310 |
Ref.: Ministry of Industry, planning dept, part figures
Conclusion
In the short run, China thus represents a very significant market because the country has constantly needed new raw materials.
Market and resources are sufficiently large there for several actors. Competing intensity is not strong.
Nevertheless, it should not occult that it is urgent to invest the market. Time to market is a key factor to obtain competitive advantage and shares.
Each year, 500 million tons of sediment
Three Gorges dam growing sedimentation condemns its hydroelectric potential
Located in Hubei province, near the city of Yichang, the Three Gorges Dam is the largest of the world for water control and hydropower productivity. Built up thanks to a deviation of the Chang Jiang River, it is structured around a reservoir with a surface area of 1084 km2.
Bigger than the Itaïpu Dam (Brazil), the hydroelectric power plant consists of two sections: on the left, 14 turbo generators, on the right, 12 turbo generators. The set offers a powerful 18720 MW. According to experts, the dam is expected to provide 10% of China electricity consumption.
Sometimes quoted as a sustainable development project, the Three Gorges Dam suggests anxiety. In addition to pollution and Eco system damage, the dam disrupts and alters the sediment cycle.
Upstream the river, crossing the Tibetan plateau, sludge inflates the Chang Jiang. Due to an intense deforestation and desertification, soil is friable. Weakened banks permit landslides. Coupled with land overuse, sediment decreases the water velocity.
Each year, 500 million tons of sediment are deposited in the river gorges, including the retention lake. At the work achievement in 2009, the pressure should affect its hydroelectric potential up to 50%.
Furthermore, sediments accumulation exerts a strong pressure on the structure and could lead to its cracking. Because the Eurasian and the Yangsté plate are not stable, the risk of an earthquake does exist. In recent years, low-magnitude earthquakes have produce landslides. In the event of a large-scale one, the Dam breaking could happen.
Downstream the river, sediment played before a role of natural fertilizer. Because of their decrease, agrochemicals use should be now required. So it will intensify water pollution.
Already levels of phosphorus and nitrogen are twenty times higher than the standards. In addition, the sediment reduction may push back the River delta. Moreover, in winter, it accelerates saline groundwater within the delta.
To challenge this situation, the solution could imply the sediment removal. Given their volume, it requires considerable resources. Downstream the river sediment transportation looks like a titanic operation, quite impossible to manage. Another answer is to valorize directly the sediments but they are heavily contaminated.
The dam construction has been swallowing 1300 coalmines, 178 garbage dumps, 1500 slaughter, etc. In fact, sediment offers an unprecedented variety of harmful heavy metals, toxic microorganisms, and so on.
Their eventual recovery in construction materials suggests chemical treatments (for instance, their encapsulation).
The so-called Three Gorges sustainability depends on the sediment treatment. Long underrated, the issue has been taken into account by the Chinese authorities, which have agreed with a 1.5 billion $ a budget to grant an efficient solution to the sediments future.
François de la Chevalerie & Daniel Levacher
