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Water splash in bucket

Clean water supply

By Amritashy Sikdar on Unsplash

Clean water supply

Compare IOA
Country
Vietnam
Sector
Most major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Infrastructure
Sub Sector
Most major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Utilities
Indicative Return
Describes the rate of growth an investment is expected to generate within the IOA. The indicative return is identified for the IOA by establishing its Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Return of Investment (ROI) or Gross Profit Margin (GPM).
5% - 10% (in ROI)
Investment Timeframe
Describes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.
Medium Term (5–10 years)
Market Size
Describes the value of potential addressable market of the IOA. The market size is identified for the IOA by establishing the value in USD, identifying the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) or providing a numeric unit critical to the IOA.
> USD 1 billion
Average Ticket Size (USD)
Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.
Varies depending on the target capacity. The minimum investment is about 500,000 USD for a 500 m3/day capacity. The investment by Clean Water Royal and AquaOne are respectively USD 2m for 4.000 m3/day (23) and USD 225m for 150.000 m3/day capacity (32)
Direct Impact
Describes the primary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6)

Business Model Description

Invest in the supply of clean water for urban and rural areas in Vietnam. The business model can be B2B investments in the clean water production plant to supply water to the current distribution network or B2C investments in distribution pipelines that get water supplies from existing water production plants. Examples of companies active in this space are:

DNP-Water Joint Stock Company provides water utility services. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd. entered into an agreement to acquire a 24% stake in DNP-Water from International Finance Corporation for $41 million on June 28, 2022. The deal is expected to close on September 30, 2022.

Binh Duong Water - Environment Company (Biwase) is the third-largest water supplier in Vietnam with a total capacity of 470,000 m3/day by the end of 2019. Its investment in a clean water supply system covers a wide range of industrial, urban, and remote rural areas, serving 250.000 customers (3) As of 31 Dec 2021, foreign organizational investors account for 18.45% share of the business (3)

Expected Impact

This IOA increases the population that improve health and general well-being from the use piped hygienic water supply in both rural and urban areas

How is this information gathered?

Investment opportunities with potential to contribute to sustainable development are based on country-level SDG Investor Maps.

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Disclaimer

UNDP, the Private Finance for the SDGs, and their affiliates (collectively “UNDP”) do not seek or solicit investment for programmes, projects, or opportunities described on this site (collectively “Programmes”) or any other Programmes, and nothing on this page should constitute a solicitation for investment. The actors listed on this site are not partners of UNDP, and their inclusion should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by UNDP for any relationship or investment.

The descriptions on this page are provided for informational purposes only. Only companies and enterprises that appear under the case study tab have been validated and vetted through UNDP programmes such as the Growth Stage Impact Ventures (GSIV), Business Call to Action (BCtA), or through other UN agencies. Even then, under no circumstances should their appearance on this website be construed as an endorsement for any relationship or investment. UNDP assumes no liability for investment losses directly or indirectly resulting from recommendations made, implied, or inferred by its research. Likewise, UNDP assumes no claim to investment gains directly or indirectly resulting from trading profits, investment management, or advisory fees obtained by following investment recommendations made, implied, or inferred by its research.

Investment involves risk, and all investments should be made with the supervision of a professional investment manager or advisor. The materials on the website are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any investment, security, or commodity, nor shall any security be offered or sold to any person, in any jurisdiction in which such offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

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Country & Regions

Explore the country and target locations of the investment opportunity.
Country
Vietnam
Region
  • Vietnam: Mekong Delta Region
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Sector Classification

Situate the investment opportunity within sustainability focused sector, subsector and industry classifications.
Sector

Infrastructure

Development needs
there are some gaps in the availability and access to key infrastructure and utilities in Vietnam. For instance, in 2018, 6.3% of the population in rural areas did not have access to sanitary water (7). An average of 84.3% of solid waste from urban activities is collected and treated as per national standards but this is mainly for landfills, and the ratio is much lower in some regions (e.g. 63% in the Highlands) (9).

Policy priority
as specified in the Socio-economic Development Strategy 2021-2030 of the Vietnam Communist Party, infrastructure development is one of Vietnam's key strategic development pillars. In addition, the application of high and green technology by the private sector is strongly encouraged by the government for infrastructure projects (8).

Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
Women account for half of the 64 m population in rural areas that suffer from underdeveloped infrastructure services, including pollution caused by solid waste, and unhygienic water supply. (4, 36). While 95% of the richest urban quintile has a piped water connection on-premises, only 35% of the poorest have access to this service (20)

Investment opportunities introduction
Vietnam's waste management market was valued at USD 3.8 billion in 2020 (15), the potential of waste electricity in Vietnam is estimated at 1,517 MW with an average power output of 10,617,740 GWh/year (16), The investment demand in the water sector is estimated between $1.3 billion to $2.7 billion over the next 10 years (17), and social housing (11)

Key bottlenecks introduction
Varies by investment but generally complex due to the necessary engagement with multiple partners and negotiations with provincial authorities/ municipalities

Sub Sector

Utilities

Development needs
Vietnam's clean water supply is not well developed - 9,000 people die from access to low-quality water and sanitation, and nearly 250,000 people are hospitalized for diarrhea caused by contaminated domestic water (4) 80% of 904 landfills in Vietnam are not up to adequate sanitary standards, creating air pollution, organic pollutants, and a large amount of leachate (19). "

Policy priority
All players in the economy and social communities are encouraged to participate in the development and management of water supply activities (2). Power generation from waste has been included in Vietnam's strategic orientation for national energy development to 2030, with a vision of 2045 (9)

Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
Women among the population in rural areas lack access to clean water. Only 51% of the rural population (about 33 million people) use clean water that meets the sanitary standard (13)

Investment opportunities introduction
advanced technologies to process solid waste, power generation for solid waste processing, clean water production, and/or water pipeline system in rural/ semi-rural areas,

Key bottlenecks introduction
high capital expenditure is required; the challenge to manage the partnerships with all partners involved in the value chain - water production factories, pipeline system management business, state-monopoly power companies, and provincial authorities

Industry

Water Utilities and Services

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Pipeline Opportunity

Discover the investment opportunity and its corresponding business model.
Investment Opportunity Area

Clean water supply

Business Model

Invest in the supply of clean water for urban and rural areas in Vietnam. The business model can be B2B investments in the clean water production plant to supply water to the current distribution network or B2C investments in distribution pipelines that get water supplies from existing water production plants. Examples of companies active in this space are:

DNP-Water Joint Stock Company provides water utility services. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd. entered into an agreement to acquire a 24% stake in DNP-Water from International Finance Corporation for $41 million on June 28, 2022. The deal is expected to close on September 30, 2022.

Binh Duong Water - Environment Company (Biwase) is the third-largest water supplier in Vietnam with a total capacity of 470,000 m3/day by the end of 2019. Its investment in a clean water supply system covers a wide range of industrial, urban, and remote rural areas, serving 250.000 customers (3) As of 31 Dec 2021, foreign organizational investors account for 18.45% share of the business (3)

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Business Case

Learn about the investment opportunity’s business metrics and market risks.

Market Size and Environment

Market Size (USD)
Describes the value in USD of a potential addressable market of the IOA.

> USD 1 billion

CAGR
Describes the historical or expected annual growth of revenues in the IOA market.

5% - 10%

Critical IOA Unit
Describes a complementary market sizing measure exemplifying the opportunities with the IOA.

Water consumption per capita: 40m3/year. Vietnam's population is 96m.

Vietnam consumes nearly 4b m3 of clean water annually. Each m3 is worth between 0.3 - 0.9 cents. Daily production is expected to grow from 10.9 mn m3 in 2019 to 20 mn m3 by 2030 (4)

Indicative Return

ROI
Describes an expected return from the IOA investment over its lifetime.

5% - 10%

Listed companies show ROE in the range of 10 - 15% (for example, BIWASE, Thu Dau Mot). The businesses in this sub-sector believe the ROI can be 10-15% if the business can minimize the water loss and have efficient and mutually beneficial collaboration with other players (e.g. water production plants and distributors) in the supply chain.

Investment Timeframe

Timeframe
Describes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.

Medium Term (5–10 years)

The ROE exceeds 10%/year if the business's efficiency is optimized, especially in the aspect of water loss management. Positive cash flow is generated when the investment is put into operation, given that the demand of the community is generally guaranteed (The local governments specify the up-front price and associated profit that is aligned with the affordability appetites of people)

Ticket Size

Average Ticket Size (USD)
Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.

Varies depending on the target capacity. The minimum investment is about 500,000 USD for a 500 m3/day capacity. The investment by Clean Water Royal and AquaOne are respectively USD 2m for 4.000 m3/day (23) and USD 225m for 150.000 m3/day capacity (32)

Market Risks & Scale Obstacles

Business - Supply Chain Constraints

High rate of water loss - 20% plus in the system. Collaboration between the water production plant and water distribution business is required to ensure smooth operations and reduction in the wastage of water. (24)

Capital - CapEx Intensive

High level of investment, 500 - 1500 USD/m3/day (22,23, 32)

Market - Volatile

Each of Vietnam’s 63 provinces sets its own rules on the provincial clean water supply (6)
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Impact Case

Read about impact metrics and social and environmental risks of the investment opportunity.

Sustainable Development Need

Only 51% of the rural population (about 33 million people) use clean water that meets the standard defined by the Ministry of Health. In the rural areas, the water supplies from the centralized and household-scale with assured sanitation quality account for only 41% and 10%, respectively (26)

The current water supply system has a high rate of water loss, with an average value of 22% in 2017 (compared with the level of less than 15% according to the international best practices (35), for example, the water loss is estimated to be10% in Australia in 2018 - Australia Water Association (39)

Gender & Marginalisation

14,123,255 other ethnic people, accounting for 14.7% of the total population of the country are living in areas where access to hygienic water is limited, e.g. Northern Midlands and Mountains, and the Central Highlands.

Expected Development Outcome

Increase supply of, and access to, hygienic water for the underserved population. By 2030, Vietnam will end epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other tropical diseases oblivion; prevention of hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other infectious diseases (7)

Gender & Marginalisation

About more than 15m women living in the rural areas will have access to clean water that meets the sanitary standard (13)

Primary SDGs addressed

Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6)
6 - Clean water and sanitation

6.1.1 Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services

6.4.1 Change in water-use efficiency over time

Current Value

96% of households have access to hygienic water sources. This ratio in rural areas is lower than those in urban areas (93.7% compared to 99.5%). The Midland area of the Northern Mountains has the lowest percentage of households with hygienic water sources, 86.8% (7).

Current loss of water in distribution is over 20% (22)

Target Value

By 2030, 95-100% of households using ic water sources (7) By 2025, 60% of the rural population has access to hygienic water that meets the standards defined by the Ministry of Health (26)

The rate of water loss in distribution will be reduced to 15% by 2025 (27)

Directly impacted stakeholders

People

Improved access to water by underserved populations especially those in rural areas.

Gender inequality and/or marginalization

Women and marginalized groups, including ethnic minorities, have better access to clean water and improved health as a result.

Planet

Contribute to improving the management practice of water pollutants, creating a better living environment on the planet.

Corporates

General businesses in the community will benefit from improved health and quality of life of staff/labor which will lead to an increase in productivity

Public sector

Reduce the healthcare budget for coping with diseases caused by water pollution.

Indirectly impacted stakeholders

People

The people in the community will benefit from the improved health of the underserved population

Gender inequality and/or marginalization

Better health outcomes will lead to savings in medical bills that can otherwise have an adverse impact on low income populations. Indirect impact on economic benefits from improved health and productivity.

Planet

Contribute to improving the management practice of water pollutants, creating a better living environment on the planet.

Corporates

General businesses in the community will benefit from improved health and quality of life of staff/labor which will lead to an increase in productivity

Public sector

Reduce the healthcare budget for coping with diseases caused by water pollution.

Outcome Risks

Lack of support from provincial government and communities may undermine the investment effectiveness (e.g.prolonged construction licensing for pipeline system expansion or service under-pricing)

Thinly populated areas and rural areas may remain unserved, due to the need for densely populated geographies to realize economies of scale, leading to imbalances in waste management.

Gender inequality and/or marginalization risk: women and marginalized groups may not be able to afford financially for the water supply from the investment.

Impact Risks

Low water prices set by the provincial government may lead to sub-par commercial models which in turn will lead to the supply of low quality of water as the investment is not commensurate with the needs of target communities.

Gender inequality and/or marginalization risk: investors may not be interested in investing in the under-developed areas where the marginalized population is concentrated.

Impact Classification

C—Contribute to Solutions

What

Provide clean water and reduce water loss in pipeline distribution system

Who

The under-served population especially those living in rural areas of which 50% are women.

Risk

Rhe risk is minimized because the investment is to meet the basic demand for clean water from the population

Contribution

Apart from the state budget, various companies, including, for example, Aqua One, Vietnam Oman, and WHAUP (SG) 2DR Pte., have invested in the clean water supply.

How Much

The water loss can be reduced to less than 15% in the areas where the IOAs are implemented

Impact Thesis

This IOA increases the population that improve health and general well-being from the use piped hygienic water supply in both rural and urban areas

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Enabling Environment

Explore policy, regulatory and financial factors relevant for the investment opportunity.

Policy Environment

The national strategy for clean water supply by 2030 and vision to 2045: set an objective to reduce the level of water loss in the process from plants to end-users (24)

Proposal for clean water supply in rural areas, 2021: This is being developed with an aim to improve the supply of clean water for rural areas, especially in difficult areas (e.g remote, mountainous, ethnic minorities, severe climate impact), and to the quality of life of the population (26)

Financial Environment

GoV, Decree 59/2014/NĐ-CP: provide policies on support to mobilized investments, including infrastructure.

GoV, Decree 78/2014/TT-BTC and 31/2021/NĐ-CP: Guidelines on corporate income tax, provide the term of preferential income taxes, including the investments in water supply utilities (30, 40)

Financial incentives: A proposal being proposed by MARD: investors are supported to increase access to concessional loans; financial contribution by the community is also encouraged (29)

Regulatory Environment

Water Resource Law 2012: Provides various stipulations of water management (33)

Law on Investment by Public-Private Partnership: regulations on investment under the public-private partnership, State management, rights, obligations, and responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and individuals related to investment activities in the form of public-private partnership (38)

GoV, Decree 12/VBHN-BXD: Stipulates terms and conditions for production, supply, and consumption of clean water (28)

GoV, Circular 44/2021/TT-BTC: provides regulations on the price bracket of hygienic water for daily life; principles and methods of determining the price of hygienic water for daily life; Different provinces set different water supply prices (34)

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Marketplace Participants

Discover examples of public and private stakeholders active in this investment opportunity that were identified through secondary research and consultations.

Private Sector

Several water suppliers in various provinces: e.g. VOI - a joint venture of the National Reserve (SGRF) of Oman and the State Capital Management Corporation (SCIC) - USD 19 million in a water plant. Manila Water Asia Pacific invests in the shares of Saigon Water Infrastructure (SII)

Government

The local governments/agencies of the target areas (Provincial government), Ministry of Construction (MoC), Ministry of Resource and Environment (MONRE), Ministry of Health (MOH)

Multilaterals

World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB).

Non-Profit

Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association (VWSA), Association For Safe Water and Environmental Sanitation (VN SAWASANA)

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Target Locations

See what country regions are most suitable for the investment opportunity. All references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)
country static map

Vietnam: Mekong Delta Region

Mekong Delta region: water plants cannot meet development needs, backward technology, operating at 70% of total capacity. Many factories have been built for a long, and degraded, so the loss rate is high (25% average loss). High population appealing to investors (31)
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References

See what sources were used to establish the investment opportunity’s data and find resources that could be consulted to explore more.
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