Chapter 4: Lithuania
(continued)
In the air sector, the greatest demand for environmental technologies was indicated for emission abatement/cleaner production technologies, followed by instrumentation and process control/software equipment. Demand is expected to grow for air sampling/laboratory analysis and air pollution control/flue gas purification equipment.
The demand for water related technologies, specifically for potable water equipment, was moderate. The highest demand was outlined for treatment process technologies, followed by those in the field of inspection and reconditioning of existing supply networks. Demand is expected to rise for monitoring and instrumentation/process control/software and monitoring/sampling/laboratory analysis equipment.
In the wastewater management sector, demand is high. The technologies most in need are pollution prevention/waste minimization, and instrumentation/process control/software, equipment for the inspection and reconditioning of existing collection networks, and physical, chemical, and biological treatment process technologies. Demand is expected to rise in the future for facility operation equipment and sludge treatment and disposal technologies, as well as for quality restoration and decontamination equipment.
Demand for technologies in the waste management sector in Lithuania is high. Technologies for pollution prevention/ waste minimization and waste collection, transportation and storage equipment are highest in demand, followed by site remediation/cleanup of contaminated land and landfill disposal technologies. Radioactive waste management equipment is not a great priority in Lithuania. The technologies expected to increase in demand include recycling/resource recovery and site monitoring equipment.
The energy sector ranked high in terms of overall demand. The technologies needed the most by both the power generation and other industrial sectors include new/efficient energy and heat generation systems; technologies for the retrofitting/rehabilitation of existing systems; and heat recovery and energy savings. Increased demand is anticipated for instrumentation and process management and control equipment.
It is important to note that in many cases results were generalized in order to avoid unilateral interpretation of demand. For example, where municipalities expressed high demand in a majority of issues while industrial respondents expressed interest in specialist areas.
| TABLE 4.17: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - AIR | |
|---|---|
| Air sampling/laboratory analysis | 3.40 (57) |
| Continuous-basis monitoring | 3.07 (53) |
| Air pollution control/flue gas purification equipment (e.g. filters, scrubbers) | 3.32 (56) |
| Gas detection/warning devices | 2.37 (51) |
| Emission abatement/cleaner production (e.g. low emission burners) | 3.77 (58) |
| Instrumentation and process control/software | 3.48 (55) |
| Technologies in high demand: #1 emission abatement/cleaner production; #2 instrumentation and process control/software; #3 air sampling/laboratory analysis; #4 air pollution control/flue gas purification equipment | |
Air sampling and laboratory analysis equipment is also in demand, because industrial companies legally have to perform air sampling and analyses several times per year. In many cases companies do not operate in their own laboratories and do not possess the necessary equipment and therefore invite independent authorities to fulfill these tasks. Companies such as the chemical plant Achema or the thermal electric power station in Kaunas require continuous air monitoring and have their own air sampling/laboratory analysis.
Air pollution control/flue gas purification remains a critical problem for industry and is reflected in the demand for filters, scrubbers and other gas purification equipment, especially units for the reduction of solid particle emissions to air.
A comparison of supply and demand for environmental technologies in the air sector shows that in general supply is greater than demand. Technologies relating to air exist but mostly in the form of machinery.
| TABLE 4.18: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - WATER | |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.20 (43) |
| Sampling/laboratory analysis | 3.17 (46) |
| Construction of supply networks | 3.00 (44) |
| Inspection and reconditioning of existing supply networks | 3.33 (45) |
| Treatment processes | 3.45 (50) |
| Advanced (tertiary) treatment processes (e.g. UV/ozonation, activated carbon) | 2.75 (44) |
| Water recycling and reuse | 2.80 (39) |
| Instrumentation/process control/software | 2.81 (27) |
| Facility operation | 3.20 (42) |
| Technologies in high demand: #1 treatment processes; #2 inspection and reconditioning of existing supply networks Technologies where demand is expected to rise: #3 instrumentation/process control/software; #4 monitoring/sampling/laboratory analysis |
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In terms of equipment supply within the potable water sector, equipment for the construction of supply networks, inspection and reconditioning of existing supply networks, research and development in environmental technologies, instrumentation/process control/software is readily available. Therefore, the demand for expertise driven and consultative services can not met by local providers. The availability of potable water-related technologies is thus concentrated in the construction and instrumentation of treatment facilities.
| TABLE 4.19: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - WASTEWATER | ||
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Technology | Municipal Wastewater | Industrial Wastewater |
| Monitoring | 2.97 (34) | 3.20 (47) |
| Sampling/laboratory analysis | 3.00 (39) | 3.07 (52) |
| Construction of collection networks | 2.97 (38) | 2.65 (49) |
| Inspection and reconditioning of existing collection networks | 3.30 (38) | 3.32 (46) |
| Physical, chemical and biological treatment processes | 3.16 (42) | 3.44 (50) |
| Advanced treatment processes (e.g. nitrogen and phosphate removal, etc.) | 3.02 (37) | 2.87 (47) |
| Sludge treatment and disposal | 3.19 (41) | 3.13 (50) |
| Water recycling and reuse | 2.44 (34) | 3.17 (51) |
| Facility operation | 3.33 (39) | 3.33 (53) |
| Pollution prevention/waste minimization | 3.43 (37) | 3.88 (53) |
| Spill control and containment | 2.50 (35) | 2.94 (50) |
| Quality restoration and decontamination | 3.00 (28) | 3.31 (38) |
| Instrumentation/process control/software | 3.21 (38) | 3.85 (50) |
| Technologies in high demand: #1 pollution prevention/waste minimization; #2 instrumentation/process control/software; #3 inspection and reconditioning of existing collection networks; #4 physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes Technologies where demand is expected to rise: #5 facility operation; #6 sludge treatment and disposal; #7 quality restoration and decontamination |
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Technologies where demand is expected to rise included equipment for facility operation, sludge treatment and disposal and quality restoration and decontamination technologies.
The strongest supply in terms of wastewater technologies includes equipment for pollution prevention/waste minimization and facility operation. Therefore, supply meets most of the facility construction demand but does not provide for monitoring technologies and instrumentation/process control/software equipment.
| TABLE 4.20: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - WASTE MANAGEMENT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Waste | Industrial Waste | Hazardous Waste | Radioactive Waste | |
| Waste collection/transportation and storage | 3.28 (38) | 3.45 (55) | 3.75 (33) | 3.00 (9) |
| Sample analysis/waste characterization | 2.33 (33) | 2.58 (49) | 2.93 (29) | 2.66 (6) |
| Site monitoring | 2.40 (32) | 2.67 (43) | 3.12 (24) | 3.40 (5) |
| Landfill disposal | 2.92 (37) | 3.10 (51) | 3.41 (24) | 2.50 (6) |
| Incineration | 2.65 (29) | 2.70 (43) | 3.15 (19) | - |
| Composting/biomass conversion | 3.00 (30) | 2.11 (34) | 1.80 (10) | - |
| Pollution prevention/waste minimization | 3.18 (32) | 3.67 (49) | 4.00 (26) | 3.60 (5) |
| Recycling/resource recovery | 2.84 (32) | 3.11 (52) | 3.10 (21) | - |
| Spillage control/decontamination | 2.75 (24) | 3.02 (40) | 3.05 (19) | 3.00 (5) |
| Site remediation/clean-up of contaminated land | 2.89 (19) | 2.88 (36) | 3.52 (19) | - |
| Technologies in high demand: #1 pollution prevention/waste minimization; #2 waste collection/transportation and storage; #3 site remediation/clean-up of contaminated land (hazardous waste); #4 landfill disposal (hazardous waste) Technologies where demand is expected to rise: #5 recycling/resource recovery; #6 site monitoring (hazardous waste) |
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Industrial companies have indicated high demand in pollution prevention/waste minimization and waste collection /transportation and storage equipment followed by recycling/resource recovery technologies.
The demand for hazardous waste technologies focuses on the same technology areas as industrial waste, except that there also exists demand for site remediation and for the clean-up of contaminated land.
The Lithuanian Government is expected to issue waste management regulations in 1998 that will determine the main requirements with regard to the above-mentioned problems. However, municipalities are currently facing serious problems in the construction of new landfills due to insufficient financial resources and the lack of government support, a lack of technical knowledge and expertise, and unclear legal requirements.
Medical and organic waste management also results in major problems that were emphasized at various waste management conferences organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in Vilnius and Klaipeda during autumn 1997.
Radioactive waste management is improving. The Ignalina nuclear power station is the main source of radioactive waste. Construction of a radioactive waste disposal site is under way and is a cooperative project with the Canadian company AECL.
As waste management is a relatively new issue in Lithuania, a range of technologies are in demand. Hazardous waste, because of its severity, requires both expertise and equipment. Waste therefore is one of the best sectors for investors to concentrate on, especially after the government announces the new waste management regulations.
| TABLE 4.21: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - ENERGY | ||
|---|---|---|
| Power Generation | Other Industrial Sectors | |
| New/efficient energy and heat generation systems | 3.89 (48) | 3.75 (37) |
| Retrofitting/rehabilitation of existing systems | 3.63 (41) | 3.63 (46) |
| Process management and control (e.g. boiler tune-ups, fuel efficiency optimization) | 3.26 (49) | 3.30 (53) |
| Heat recovery and energy savings (e.g. insulation) | 3.37 (45) | 3.62 (53) |
| Alternative/renewable energy systems (e.g. geothermal, biomass, solar) | 2.43 (44) | 2.40 (45) |
| Alternative (non-CFC) refrigerants | 2.92 (27) | 2.54 (29) |
| Instrumentation | 3.47 (42) | 3.53 (45) |
| Technologies in high demand: #1 new/efficient energy and heat generation systems; #2 retrofitting/rehabilitation of existing systems; #3 heat recovery and energy savings Technologies where demand is expected to rise: #4 instrumentation; #5 process management and control |
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The lowest demand in the energy sector is to be found in two groups: alternative (non-CFC) refrigerants and alternative/renewable energy systems. Environmental businesses and industry stated the low interest in these technologies was due to Lithuanian climate and geology. Solar and geothermal energy have no real application in Lithuania, with the exception of a small area (Klaipeda region) near the Baltic Sea, which can use geothermal energy. The low interest in alternative (non CFC) refrigerants is because cooling systems are mainly used by the food industry.
The general demand for other environmental technologies is higher than average because it has been influenced by the large interest in the energy sector (a critical issue in Lithuania). The levels of interest from municipalities is higher than that from other respondents.
Within the next few years, the energy sector will remain active. Energy saving technology, and therefore the rehabilitation of existing systems, will dominate, particularly as prices for energy continue to rise. Another growth sector for technologies are the new/efficient energy and heat generation systems, although this tends to depend largely on the general financial status of industry.
| TABLE 4.22: MAJOR END-USERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES BY SECTOR | |
|---|---|
| Category | Major End-users by Group |
| Air | Power plants Heat generating stations Industrial companies Private companies Mobile vehicles |
| Water and Wastewater | Water supply companies Water treatment plants Environmental Protection Department of the City Municipality Local residents Industrial companies Private companies Agriculture Hospitals |
| Waste | Municipal service operators Large waste producers Municipalities Cleaning services companies Landfill operators Waste processing companies |
| Energy | Power and heat generation plants Industrial companies Municipalities Municipal service operators |
The second major group of end-users in this sector are industrial companies, including chemical, textile, pharmaceutical and glass manufacturers. With regard to mobile sources of air pollution (vehicles), demand among end-users tends to depend on the economic changes taking place in Lithuania. There is an increasing tendency to switch from old vehicles manufactured with lower air pollution control requirements to newer vehicles produced according to the European standards. State authorities control air pollution by issuing restrictions for carbon dioxide and lead emissions, and this creates a basis for growing demand of air technologies in the near future.
Housing communities and individual residences located in areas without a centralized water supply are a growing category of end-users. Because Lithuania contains geological zones with high concentrations of iron or other nonorganic materials in groundwaters, inhabitants of these areas are also potential buyers of iron-removing and other water filtration/purification technologies.
Industrial companies (food, chemicals and pharmaceuticals) consume potable water as part of their on-site processes, and the decreasing quality of water and the increasing environmental and technological requirements create a growing demand for water purification technologies.
Within the wastewater sector, the major end-users of environmental technologies are water supply companies, water treatment plants and municipal services operators. This category is also covered by the above-mentioned program, with new wastewater treatment plants being built in Klaipeda, Kaunas, Siauliai, Vilnius and other major cities.
Industrial companies are subject to targeted regulations and restrictions and in the majority of cases are modifying their internal wastewater control systems (or implementing new wastewater technologies).
Individual households are not significant end-users of wastewater treatment equipment; however, demand is estimated to grow in the future.
Because energy prices are rising, interest for environmental technologies in the energy sector will also probably rise.
