Suez & Vinci Transform Belgrade Into a Sustainable Water Hub
Life on our planet hinges on the effective stewardship of water. As the globe's population grows and environmental pressures mount, the persuit to secure safe and ample water for all grows with it.
According to the United Nations, as of 2022, a startling 42% of the world's domestic wastewater was discharged untreated, posing risks to human health, ecosystems and natural habitats.
Leading the charge in combating this are Suez and Vinci Construction with a joint groundbreaking initiative in Belgrade, Serbia. This is set to establish Europe's most innovative large-scale greenfield wastewater treatment facility.
This ambitious venture kicked off following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with there now an agreement of interest signed, witnessed by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Aleksandar Vučić, alongside Serbian minister Goran Vesic.
Sabrina Soussan, Suez's leader, said: "It’s a powerful example of the value of international cooperation for improving people's quality of life.
"It’s a new milestone in the concretisation of this strategic facility, which will treat 423,000m³ of wastewater daily, serving the equivalent of 1.5 million people.
"The plant will significantly reduce water pollution in the Danube and Sava rivers."
About Suez
A Paris-based utility, Suez offers critical water and waste management solutions across the globe.
With 2023 revenues reaching €8.9bn (US$9.8bn) and a dedicated team of 40,000, the company serves drinking water to 57 million people and sanitation services to more than 36 million.
Introducing Vinci Construction
With roots stretching back to 1899, fellow French company Vinci Construction has a workforce of 119,000 employees.
The firm is engaged in upwards of 69,000 projects annually. Its annual revenues stand at €31.5bn (US$34.7bn), with a commitment to offering more ecologically sustainable construction options including the use of low carbon concrete.
The wastewater plant: Part of Belgrade's wastewater revolution
The Veliko Selo facility represents a leap towards a sustainable future, employing state-of-the-art technologies to set new benchmarks in wastewater treatment.
This project unfolds in two phases: the construction of the top-notch facility by Suez and Vinci Construction followed by long-term management, a collaboration between Belgrade Waterworks and Sewage (BVK) and Suez, focusing on the training and upskilling of local teams.
Suez is poised to introduce technologies that reclaim heat, boost biogas production, slash power usage, and possibly generate renewable energy via a solar project.
Sabrina said the MoU for the project is “a new illustration of our ability to build relevant integrated partnerships with strong environmental value”.
She added: “It also demonstrates our commitment to enable our customers to provide access to wastewater services with resilient and innovative solutions.”
Its sophisticated network of more than 50,000 connected objects and sensors elevate waste management to new heights.
Besides advanced sludge carbonisation that elevates biogas output, the new facilities pave the way for a circular economy in waste management, transforming erstwhile waste into precious resources.
This endeavour is expected not only to enrich water quality and biodiversity in Serbia's rivers but also to offer renewable energy sources to Belgrade's citizens.
The Danube, Europe's second-longest river, cradles vital ecosystems across 10 nations, with the ambitious Veliko Selo project marking a significant stride towards its preservation.
Capucine Journet, Procurement Excellence Director at Suez, said: “The Danube Delta is the largest remaining wetland in Europe and shelters precious biodiversity.
“The more we act upstream, the better.”
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