Workshop on Policy, Mechanism to Promote NFB Development

The workshop on Policy, Mechanism to Promote Development of Non-Fired Brick (NFB) under the project of “Promotion of NFB Production and Utilization in Viet Nam” was jointly held by the Ministry of Construction (MoC), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on June 30th, 2017 in Hanoi.
 

The objective of the Project is to reduce the annual growth rate of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emission by gradually displacing uses of fossil fuels and good quality soil for brick production through increase in production, sale and utilization of NFBs. The direct reduction of GHG emission is estimated at 383 thousand tons of CO2; the indirect reduction of GHG emission is estimated at 13.4 million tons of CO2 that are accumulated for a 10-year period since the end of the Project.
The first component of the Project is policy support for the NFB technology development implemented by MoC. Based on survey, investigation and evaluation of mechanisms, policies on NFB development that are issued and implemented by the Central and local authorities, MoC has drafted, supplemented and completed mechanisms, policies on NFB development for the coming time.
Besides supporting, participating and making proposal for the Project, MoC has added incentive policies for investments in non-fired building materials (NFBM) in the process of drafting and submitting to the Government for the issuance of Decrease No.24a/2016/ND-CP on building material management.
MoC also reviewed, evaluated standards, norms, quota, procedures for construction, acceptance of works that use NFBs and proposed the NFB standard framework, NFBM technology science program in the 2015-2020 period, and took part in reviewing, compiling 3 standards for NFBs.
In addition, the Project has developed training programs with 5 standardized document sets for 17 training workshops in the years 2016 and 2017; elected and successfully implemented 03 demonstration projects of concrete brick production with vibration technology in Thai Nguyen province, Da Nang city and HaiPhong city. In 2017, the Project continues to demonstrate from 8 to 10 replication projects. NFBs of the demonstration projects have been widely used in local construction works.
Speaking at the workshop, Bui Pham Khanh, Deputy Minister of Construction said: “Project of Promotion of NFB Production and Utilization in Viet Nam has great contribution to the development of Non-fired Building Materials(NFBM) to implement NFBM Development Program to 2020 as stated in the Decision No. 567/QD-TTg dated April 28, 2010 by the Prime Minister (Program 567)”.
The Deputy Minister expressed his hope that MoC and MoST would co-operate more closely, continue running Project of NFB Production and Utilization in Viet Nam in the most effective way in order to inherit and develop achievements of the 567 Program.

The Deputy Minister Bui Pham Khanh spoke at the workshop- 2nd Photo

The Departments of Construction continue to advise the People’s Committees on policies on production and use of NFBM, having strict management policies on clay brick production.
In addition, localities should synchronously issue, concretize preferential policies for use of industrial waste in NFBM production; compulsorily use of new materials in construction works according to specific criteria; continue process of removing traditional brick kilns; strengthen inspection, examination including product quality control complying with construction technology; follow Directive No.10/CT-TTg of The Prime Minister and Circular No.09/2012/TT-BXD of the MoC, strictly fine individuals and organizations that do not comply with the use of NFBM as prescribed.
At the same time, localities should also propagandize, spread the implementation of Decision No.567/QD-TTg, Directive No.10/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister and Circular No.09/2012/TT-BXD of MoC on NFBM; contribute practical ideas to finalize the policy, mechanism to enhance production and use of NFBM.
Emphasizing the need to promote production and utilization of NFBs in Vietnam, Mr(s) Akiko Fuji, UNDP’s Country Deputy Director for Vietnam said: “Vietnam has made great efforts in implementing process of green growth through signing commitments to participate in development goals to 2030 with focus on energy savings and greenhouse gases emission reduction. Especially, Vietnam has made an impressive effort in developing NFBs with timely important policies. UNDP will continue co-operating with Vietnam through MoC, MoST to promote NFB production as the set target”.
Mr. Nguyen DinhHau, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology for Economic-Technical Branches cum Project Director also pledged to work closely with MoC in implementing the 567 Program and the Project.
 
The Program 567 aims to develop production and use of NFBM in order to replace clay bricks by 20% to 25% in 2015, by 30% to 40% in 2020; every year, from 15 to 20 million tons of industrial waste (ash slag, blast furnace slag, etc.) are used to produce NFBM, saving about 1,000 hectares of agricultural land and hundreds of hectares of waste land, targeting to completely abolish traditional kilns that produce clay bricks.
After 7 years of implementation, the Program 567 has received positive feedback from ministries, sectors, localities, investors and enterprises. So far, the total designed capacity of 3 main types of NFBs including block, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), cellular lightweight concrete (CLC) reached about 7 billion standard pieces per year; production at 5.8 billion standard pieces per year, accounting for 25% of the total materials; total consumption at over 5.5 billion standard pieces per year.
Besides the achieved results, the 567 Program still has a number of limitations to overcome, need participation of all ministries, sectors and localities, especially investors and users. The standard system related to products, design, construction and acceptance of works using NFBM should be further refined.