Recently, a consortium led by Chongqing Derun Environment, a SUEZ joint venture, was awarded a 25-year project to treat and improve the Yipin and Huangxi Rivers in Chongqing as part of the “Clear Water and Green Banks” program. The total investment in the project will be over 200 million euros. This Public-Private Partnership project aims to further improve the ecological environment of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and enhance the quality of urban water management.
The project is located in Banan District, south of Chongqing’s central urban area. The watershed under management is 59.75 kilometers long and covers an area of approximately 350 km2. Chongqing Derun Environment, the lead member of the consortium, will be responsible for setting up a project company and for overseeing the operation and maintenance of the project.
The construction and operational activities of the project consist of water treatment (including a wastewater treatment plant and pipe network), waterfront management, water ecosystem restoration, smart water, and ancillary projects. The construction period is three years, and the operational trial period is expected to begin in 2024.
Lai Shengping, Executive President of Chongqing Derun Environment, said: “This project is part of Chongqing’s priority ‘Clear Water and Green Banks’ program. The initiative will be tremendously beneficial to the long-term development of Chongqing. We’re confident that by leveraging the consortium members’ extensive expertise in watershed management, this project will become another benchmark of excellence, similar to the Changsheng River integrated remediation project and the ‘livable waterfront’ project in Wuhou District of Chengdu.”
Ana Giros, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ, in charge of International, said: “We’re honored to have the opportunity to once more apply our expertise in water ecosystem remediation and water quality improvement to a Chongqing project. SUEZ is committed to ongoing expansion of its investment in Chongqing. Currently we’re developing more environmental treatment and restoration projects in western China. We will keep playing our important role in the ecological protection of the Yangtze River basin to support residents’ livelihoods and wellbeing.”
Chongqing Derun Environment: Commits to Building First-Class Environmental Investment Platform in China
Chongqing Derun Environment is currently the largest investment platform, set up by Chinese and French companies, in China’s environmental industry. The company primarily focuses on integrated environmental management (like watershed management and soil remediation), as well as resource recycling and reuse, and environmental technology. SUEZ currently holds a 25.1% stake in Derun.
In early 2021, Derun completed the demonstration section of the Changsheng River integrated environmental management (watershed management) project in Chongqing. The project has since achieved the goal of controlling pollution sources and improving water quality. It has also employed the sponge city concept to build an eco-park for strong social, economic and environmental benefits. Furthermore, the “livable waterfront” project in the Wuhou District of Chengdu has improved water quality and restored the river’s ecological properties. It was ranked among the “first wave of demonstration sites for urban environmental quality improvement” in Chengdu in 2019. Additionally, in 2020 and 2022, it was awarded the accolade of most beautiful river/lake” in Chengdu. In 2021, it was recognised as a “New Site of Ecological Progress for Public Benefit”.
SUEZ’s Partnership with Chongqing: 20 years and counting…
SUEZ's partnership with Chongqing began in 2002 with water production and network services in Jiangbei District, Yubei District, and most parts of the Liangjiang New Area. Thereafter it expanded from individual projects to integrated services of wastewater treatment, smart water, and environmental services in industrial parks. SUEZ currently serves over two million Chongqing residents, and is dedicated to improving the well-being and quality of life of households in Chongqing and the downstream regions. SUEZ’s total investment in Chongqing now exceeds 557 million euros.