Water Technology not too long ago caught up with Mauro Cruz, senior vice chairman of Latin America at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, for a primer on the developments, priorities and alternatives particular to Latin America.

Q: What are the main business developments distinctive to Latin America?

We’re seeing social accountability play a giant position with an increasing number of corporations investing in options which can be higher for the setting. Companies are beginning to set requirements which can be even larger than these set by the federal government, for each environmental impacts in addition to security and safety for workers within the work setting. In some circumstances, we’re even seeing corporations set their very own firm insurance policies or requirements with out the existence of necessities from the federal government. For instance, corporations are investing in superior applied sciences to reuse water and discharge a greater effluent to the setting with out a particular discharge restrict imposition in place. 

Electrification is by far the largest development pattern in Latin America. Lithium mining is particularly large in Chile and Argentina. Chile is at present the second largest producer of lithium on the earth, however Argentina is turning into a booming market and enjoying a number one position. There’s a giant alternative for corporations to put money into the commodity now and we’re anticipating to see sturdy development within the coming years. 

Q: What are your group’s prime priorities within the area?

In our business and enterprise, we’ve got long-term tasks and developments that exit 10-15 years. What we’ve seen in Latin America within the final 10-15 years is a lot of the nations within the area now turning into producers and exporters of pure assets merchandise. We have various areas associated to the vitality transition, and our foremost precedence is to serve these prospects and meet their water circularity, decarbonization and yield distinctive wants. 

We have a really sturdy and mature oil and fuel enterprise — every part from exploration and manufacturing to downstream refining and petrochemicals. Right now, society nonetheless requires oil and fuel to assist in the transition to inexperienced vitality, so we view this space as not being in battle with these objectives, however reasonably as a champion for ecological transformation.

Our area could be very commodity based mostly when it comes to development, so copper and lithium have gotten large items of our enterprise. Latin America can also be a robust world participant within the pulp and paper in addition to the meals and beverage industries, key sectors to make sure hygiene, sanitary paper and meals inventory amongst different day by day wants worldwide. 

We have a robust and multi-decade supporting relationship to Brazilian ethanol manufacturing that goes again to late 1970’s Proálcool Program, accountable for necessary coverage implementation to foster the manufacturing of ethanol and its use as transportation gas, contributing with Brazil’s biofuels business worldwide recognition as a benchmark sector these days. We assist sugarcane ethanol and biodiesel industries to extend yield, acquire top quality merchandise and obtain ecological footprint discount objectives. Biofuels are an important bridge from fossil fuels and full electrification and we see the thriving corn ethanol sector as one other brick to proceed supporting the worth era for the enterprise, the society and the planet, so our enterprise touches quite a lot of areas within the vitality transition.

Our know-how is clearly a core piece of our enterprise, however our group’s information of the area coupled with the power to serve and be with our prospects to create custom-made options are what actually set us aside.

Q: What initiatives or investments are driving success for patrons within the area?

Industrial prospects are all the time on the lookout for enhanced productiveness and methods to modernize their crops. They’re investing in applied sciences that enhance productiveness whereas reducing prices and vitality consumption, so sustainability is a giant facet. 

Initiatives associated to water reuse, environmental safety and discount of vitality consumption are all priorities in our area, particularly in locations like Mexico the place water could be very scarce. Investing in these kinds of protections and utilizing different sources of water are vital elements to proceed operations. In latest years, we’ve seen a robust demand for our applied sciences and options, and we see this constructive momentum persevering with into the longer term.

Q: What distinctive options do prospects within the LATAM require?

A major instance is within the oil and fuel business. Because oil and fuel will nonetheless be current for some time as we transition to inexperienced vitality, we assist prospects enhance their productiveness and reduce environmental impression by working with them to search out the very best options.

Lithium can also be bringing innovation to our area and we’re seeing big investments in that. Different applied sciences are being examined and evaluated within the area as lithium is being extracted from the brine. This is exclusive to the area as a result of they’re not the identical approaches being applied in Australia and China, for instance. 

We’ve constructed a status within the space as dependable companions for our prospects for main tasks by combining our experience within the discipline with our applied sciences, capabilities and presence within the area.

Q: What are a few of the greatest alternatives for patrons within the coming years?

In our area, being a producer of commodities is essential and people alternatives might be there for some time. The geographical facet additionally performs a task as we’re seeing governments create completely different initiatives to assist in the inexperienced vitality transition, so extra corporations are investing in options to satisfy these objectives. 

There are quite a lot of initiatives and tasks already in place the place there may be the chance to make higher use of assets, comparable to biogas manufacturing and inexperienced hydrogen, for instance. These are going to be necessary development avenues when it comes to different energies. 

At Veolia, we consider there may be quite a lot of alternative to be a champion within the ecological transformation and every day, we try to implement our applied sciences and options to assist our prospects throughout numerous industries produce extra of what they want with much less environmental impression.