AHK Sri Lanka 2 – Sewage sludge BOI

The initial situation

In an attempt to make Sri Lanka more attractive for foreign direct investment, the Sri Lankan Board of Investment (BOI) established BOI industrial zones throughout the country. These zones are intended to promote the establishment of (foreign) companies by means of favourable infrastructure and regulations for industries.

At present there is a lack of cost-effective and sustainable sewage sludge management in these industrial zones. Sewage sludge residue frequently has to be picked up by lorry and transported to landfill sites for disposal. The establishment of companies for which the use of chemicals and hazardous substances is essential poses environmental risks in the event of insufficient waste processing. Managing sewage sludge innovatively is necessary to increase effectiveness, sustainability and safety while minimising costs.

The approach

Backed by German expertise, the project “Sewage Sludge Management in a BOI Zone” is developing an innovative concept for a sustainable sewage sludge management system for the Seethawaka Board of Investment (BOI) Zone in Sri Lanka. 

The objectives and measures

First, the project starts with an expert analysis of the Seethawaka BOI zone. As part of a capacity building activity, BOI representatives and companies from Sri Lanka will then be invited to Germany. During their visit, they will take a look at reference projects, learn about technologies and establish contact with German stakeholders from the wastewater and sewage sludge sector.

Furthermore, one focus of the project is the development of a customised sewage sludge management concept for the Seethawaka BOI zone by a German expert consulting company. For this purpose, the experts are conducting a feasibility study to identify potential solutions. Finally, the developed sewage sludge management concept will be presented to all stakeholders involved. In a possible follow-on project, the objective is to implement this with the help of German technology.