|
US-AEP/Korea helps L.A. company secure multi-million dollar project.
The efforts of US-AEP/Korea Technology Representative Chi-Sun Lee have
led to a major project for Golden NRG, Inc., of Los Angeles, California.
Golden NRG has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korean
cities of Iksan and Jeonjoo as well as Wanjoo County, outlining the
refuse-drive fuel system/co-generation plant that the U.S. company will set
up in these locations. Total project cost will be $80-100 million, and
Golden NRG expects to contract for 40 percent of that amount. Final
negotiations will be completed in March. US-AEP/Korea has been involved with
this project since 1995 by providing business counseling, supporting
exchanges, and coordinating meetings between the potential business
partners.
Indonesia
and Vermont continue watershed management cooperation.
The Indonesia-Vermont "sister lakes" project, supported by US-AEP�s State
Environmental Initiative, recently received a no-cost extension until August
30, 1999. This extension will enable the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
to continue to share watershed management techniques with Indonesia�s Lake
Toba Heritage Foundation (LTHF). Many activities are already planned for
1999. For example, starting this month, Mr. Andaru Satnyoto of LTHF is
participating in a five-month U.S. exchange and internship program with the
Lake Champlain Basin Program and Lake Champlain Basin Science Center. Mr.
Andaru will receive technical training on sustainable lake management
techniques and learn methods of strengthening LTHF�s institutional capacity.
And in February, U.S. project team members will travel to Indonesia to help
LTHF develop a feasibility study for the establishment of a Lake Toba
education and science center. A grant award of $10,000, provided by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Monitor International of Annapolis,
Maryland, is supporting this activity. (Note: US-AEP�s State Environmental
Initiative is managed by the Council of State Governments.)
MOU
establishes environmental extension system in India.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed December 16, 1998, has
officially established plans for a self-sustaining environmental information
outreach program in India. Signatories to the MOU are the Indian Chamber of
Commerce (ICC), US-AEP�s Clean Technology and Environmental Management (CTEM)
program, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This
program will help Indian industry adopt sound environmental management
systems, leading to cleaner production, greater resource efficiency, and
greenhouse gas mitigation. The ICC Environmental Management Center (ICC-EMC),
which covers 11 east Indian states, will take a lead role in developing the
program. A second MOU was also signed between CTEM and ICC-EMC, detailing
program activities and objectives.
NGO program
shows Asian carpetmaker the value of cleaner production.
The Asia Foundation was recently given a no-cost extension to April 30,
1999, to continue to implement projects undertaken through US-AEP�s
NGO-Business Environmental Partnership. The extension was granted due to the
slowdown in project implementation caused by Asia�s financial crisis. The
NGO-Business Environmental Partnership fosters cooperation among Asian
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and Asian manufacturers to reduce
industry�s environmental impacts. Through one such partnership, Nepalese
firm Formation Carpet will install a washing device developed by the
Institute for Legal Research and Reform, a Nepalese NGO. This technology is
expected to reduce the factory�s water use by approximately 40 percent,
resulting in substantial cost savings. Next steps on this project were
discussed during a December 1998 meeting attended by 30 participants,
including the mayor of Kathmandu, a representative from the Ministry of
Industries, U.S. Embassy Regional Environment Officer Jim Cole, and the
president of the Carpet Association. The mayor has expressed his support of
the program and hopes to see other carpet companies involved in similar
cost-saving, waste reduction practices.
Hong Kong
diesel exhaust workshop draws over 200 participants.
More than 200 people attended the January 11-12 "Diesel Vehicle Exhaust
Treatment Technology and Motorcycle Emissions Workshop," co-sponsored by US-AEP�s
Office of Technology Cooperation in Hong Kong. Jointly organized by the Hong
Kong Environmental Protection Department and Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, the workshop attracted local and international government
officials, academics, air pollution control professionals, and industry
experts. US-AEP sponsored speakers from the U.S. Manufacturers of Emission
Controls Association and helped organize a bus demonstration showcasing U.S.
expertise in diesel emission standards and control technology. The
technology was well received by participating diesel vehicle operators and
trade associations. Mr. Ira Kasoff, commercial counselor of the U.S. &
Foreign Commercial Service, opened the event, along with Professor Poon
Chung-Kwong, president of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Mr. Mike
Stokoe, deputy director of the Hong Kong Environmental Protection
Department.
January 26
policy forum to address climate change.
US-AEP�s January 26 Policy Forum will focus on "Involving Business in
Global Climate Change." The speaker is Mr. Marty McBroom of the Pew Center
on Global Climate Change and the Business Environmental Leadership Council.
Feel free to bring lunch to the forum, held noon to 1 pm at 1720 Eye Street,
N.W., Suite 700, Washington, DC.
New on US-AEP�s
website.
The US-AEP website now has a search function that allows visitors to
search the entire site by keyword. You can find the search page at
https://www.usaep.org/.
Welcome.
As of January 4, Mr. Allan De Leon-Marfori is the new
US-AEP Deputy Environmental Infrastructure Representative in Manila,
Philippines. Allan has worked as consultant and project specialist on
various social development programs at USAID/Philippines, AusAID, the Asian
Development Bank, and private voluntary organizations. For more than eight
years, he has focused on sustainable projects involving microfinance, health
and sanitation, environmental management, water supply, and community
organization. Allan can be reached by phone at 63-2-804-0436 or by fax at
63-2-804-0340. |
