Hue seeks $140 million Japanese ODA loan for wastewater, flood-control project

Hue City authorities met with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Thursday to discuss preparations for the second phase of a project to improve Hue's water environment, focusing on priority areas.

The project will be overseen by the Hue City People's Committee, with the Japanese government expected to provide ODA financing through JICA.

It will cover about 934 hectares across Phu Xuan, Kim Long, Hoa Chau and Huong An wards.

The area plays an important role in urban development north of the Huong River and is home to a network of rivers, lakes and waterways, as well as several structures within the Hue Imperial Citadel heritage area.

Hoang Hai Minh, standing vice-chairman of the Hue City People's Committee, said a key component of the second phase would be the development of an integrated drainage, wastewater collection and treatment system for the area.

The project is expected to include a wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters per day, with provision to expand it to 50,000 cubic meters per day.

It will also include pumping stations and wastewater collection networks.

The centralized wastewater treatment system is expected to improve the city's capacity to collect and treat wastewater, reduce direct discharge into the environment and gradually improve water quality, environmental sanitation and residents' quality of life.

The second phase will also include measures to improve waterways and lakes in and around the Hue Imperial Citadel.

The project has an estimated total investment of 27.26 billion yen (US$185 million), including about VND3.52 trillion ($135 million) in Japanese ODA loans and more than VND756 billion ($29 million) in counterpart funding.

It is expected to be implemented from 2027 to 2032.