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.

Currently, these industrial zones lack a cost-effective and sustainable approach to sewage sludge management. Sludge residues often have to be transported by truck to landfills for disposal. The presence of companies that rely on chemicals and hazardous substances in their operations can pose environmental risks if waste is not properly treated. Sustainable sludge management that is both economically viable and environmentally sound is therefore essential to improve efficiency, enhance sustainability and safety, and reduce costs.

The approach

The project “Sewage Sludge Management in a BOI Zone” drew on German expertise to develop 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

The project began with a technical assessment of the Seethawaka BOI Zone. As part of a capacity-building initiative, BOI representatives and Sri Lankan companies were invited to Germany. During the visit, they toured reference projects, learned about different technologies and connected with German stakeholders from the wastewater and sewage sludge sectors.

Another key focus was the development of a tailored sewage sludge management concept for the Seethawaka BOI Zone by a specialised German consultancy. The experts conducted a feasibility study to identify and assess potential solutions.

Solar drying of the sewage sludge on site was identified as the most sustainable solution. In a subsequent stage, the sewage sludge can also be subject to anaerobic digestion. The solution was agreed upon with local stakeholders. The management of the industrial zone was put in touch with specialist German technology partners. Following the EXI project, they will work together to examine how the solution developed can be implemented in Sethawaka and scaled up to other industrial zones in Sri Lanka.