be’ah, OPWP ink pact to progress $1 bn waste-to-energy project

CIRCULAR ECONOMY: 4,500 tonnes/day of municipal waste to power 130-150 MW plant at Barka

BUSINESS REPORTER

MUSCAT, MARCH 15

Under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, a memorandum of cooperation was signed on Monday between Oman Environmental Service Holding Company SAOC (be'ah) and Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) to build a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Barka.

The signing took place during Oman Sustainability Week held at Oman Conventions and Exhibition Centre, Muscat. The capex cost of this first-ever WTE venture is estimated at $1 billion.

Aligned with Oman Vision 2040, be’ah undertook this venture with the aim of realising its targets on economic development and environmental sustainability. Building the first waste-to-energy (WTE) plant will act as a massive enabler to Oman’s energy diversification plans and shift towards renewable sources. Furthermore, the project will contribute to economic development by unlocking investment opportunities in the environmental sector and creating jobs through direct and indirect employment with SMEs and service providers.

“This vital project is part of be’ah’s strategy and sustainable waste management plan that will promote the circular economy on a national scale'', commented Eng Ahmed bin Hamed al Subhi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of be’ah. “It falls within our continuous efforts to minimise the use of landfills across the Sultanate provide long-term waste management solutions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

With an estimated daily capacity of 4,500 tonnes of municipal waste, the plant is expected to reduce landfills’ carbon footprint by 50 million tonnes in 35 years (1.3m tonnes a year), estimated at a whopping 30 per cent of total carbon dioxide equivalent currently emitted by landfill operations. This substantial decrease will contribute to the Sultanate of Oman’s push to meet its international undertakings under the Paris Agreement.

Commenting on the project’s impact on energy, Eng Yaqoob bin Saif al Kiyumi, Chief Executive Officer of OPWP, said, “The initiative introduces an ecofriendly solution that will help us build a diversified energy sector by providing 130-150 MW from renewable sources. It also engages the private sector to build and operate the WTE plant and provide a sustainable platform of collaboration between two key sectors with a mutual aim of sustainability.”