Should those working in desulfurization consider switching to work with wastewater?
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The manager suggested that I transfer from the company’s desulfurization department to the wastewater treatment department, and I was a bit hesitant. Our company’s situation: We can secure 1–3 projects worth tens of millions per year in the desulfurization sector. However, the wastewater department was established recently, has only three or four employees, and has not received any projects yet. But the company’s focus will gradually shift toward wastewater treatment, and it should be able to secure a major project worth over 100 million this year. As for my personal situation: I graduated two and a half years ago and have been working in the field of desulfurization, in a field related to process engineering. Yet I feel that I haven’t fully mastered this skill yet. When I switched to working with water treatment, I felt that all my previous experience in desulfurization was gone, and I had to start from scratch again like a graduate – which gave me some concerns. Looking at the industry’s prospects, it is a reality that the desulfurization market is becoming smaller and more competitive; many companies have shifted to denitrification and decarbonization, but there are still projects available, so there will be work to be done in the future. There are many projects related to wastewater treatment; it’s an emerging industry, so might its prospects be better? Should I make the transfer? Please help me analyze this. Thanks.
The project for treating wastewater, Chaoyang Industry – great!
There are fewer desulfurization projects these days, but denitrification and carbon removal are gradually gaining momentum. The field of wastewater treatment is quite broad; it is recommended to consider engaging in wastewater treatment. It’s always more difficult at the beginning, but things will get better over time.
A 300-billion-yuan industry boom in wastewater treatment is about to begin; the focus on wastewater treatment will increase during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, and even further during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. The policy changes will mainly fall into five areas: First, ammonia nitrogen will be included for the first time as a target subject to mandatory control ； II. Raise the discharge standards for wastewater treatment and increase the reuse of reclaimed water ； III. Mandatory requirements for sludge treatment ； IV. Continue to improve the sewage treatment rate and equipment load rate ； V. Agricultural water pollution has been included in the management system for the first time. Policy changes will create three investment opportunities: sludge treatment, upgrading of wastewater treatment plants, and treatment of industrial wastewater. Mandatory policies for sludge treatment have been established. According to documents issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2009 and 2010, the sources of funding for sludge treatment, the entities responsible, the mandatory measures, and the implementation timeline have been specified ； Dried incineration will account for 60% of the domestic sludge incineration market share, with a market size estimated to be around 170–350 billion. The core of the sludge treatment industry chain is chemical treatment and physical incineration, and the key consumables and equipment used in sludge treatment will benefit greatly from the rapid market growth. Upgrading of sewage treatment plants: MBR technology enters the stage of large-scale application. “The tightening of wastewater treatment standards during the 12th Five-Year Plan period will lead to a peak in investment in the upgrading and renovation of wastewater treatment plants. The cost-effectiveness of MBR will make it the dominant technology for the upgrading of wastewater treatment plants. 1. The MBR process has a high efficiency in removing nitrogen and phosphorus ； 2. The MBR process produces water of high quality, requires less space, generates less excess sludge, and is easy to operate ； 3. Compared to traditional wastewater treatment methods, the cost of the MBR process is already competitive. We believe that MBR will become the mainstream technology for upgrades and renovations. We are optimistic about the listed companies in the membrane treatment sector: Bishuiyuan possesses a complete industrial chain that spans from upstream membrane materials to downstream MBR processes, and it has a strong brand reputation in the field of municipal wastewater treatment. Time Wharton, a subsidiary of Southern Huitong, is primarily engaged in the research and development as well as manufacturing of reverse osmosis membrane components, and it is the largest specialized manufacturer of composite reverse osmosis membranes in China. Treatment of industrial wastewater: First-mover advantages and innovative models for success. Industrial wastewater remains a key focus of governance during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. The characteristics of industrial water treatment projects – such as large costs, high requirements for stability, stringent qualification standards, and significant technical challenges – mean that companies with a competitive edge and innovative approaches will benefit the most from further advancements in industrial wastewater treatment. With the increased requirements for industrial wastewater treatment under the 12th Five-Year Plan, and stricter environmental impact assessment rules for new projects in this sector, we are optimistic about listed companies that have already established a leading position in wastewater treatment within certain industries. Wanbanda holds a leading position in industries such as coal chemical and petrochemical sectors, while Zhongdian Environmental Protection leads in fields like thermal power and nuclear power; both will benefit from the upgrades in water treatment investments by existing customers as well as the acquisition of new customers. (The author is an analyst at UBS Securities.) (Source: Securities Times Network)
One should choose a career with promising prospects; after all, people strive to reach higher heights