MUSCAT: Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be’ah), the state-owned utility overseeing the management of the country’s solid waste sector, says it is progressing the delivery of a number of initiatives to recover energy and materials from waste streams as part of a broader effort to foster the growth of circular economy in Oman.
Initiatives currently in hand for potential implementation centre around the generation of, among other resources, biogas, biogenic CO2, Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), and Tyre Derived Fuel. In addition to opening up energy recovery opportunities, some of these waste streams also contribute to the production of commercially valuable byproducts, notably biochar and compost.
“be'ah focuses on identifying and evaluating opportunities for converting waste into energy, aligning with Oman’s waste diversion goals. By developing feasible business cases and collaborating with off-takers of energy and process outputs, the unit advances innovative energy recovery solutions,” the utility – part of Oman Investment Authority (OIA) – noted in its latest Sustainability Report 2024.
Compost and biochar A notable waste stream being carefully studied for its material recovery potential is the invasive mesquite tree – also known as Prosopis juliflora – a plant species targeted for eradication because of its harmful impacts on local biodiversity and water resources. Massive quantities of mesquite waste are currently being generated as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources intensifies its national drive to rid the country of this invasive species.
be’ah is now working with the ministry to explore the potential for converting this green waste into commercially viable products that support sustainable agriculture. “Expressions of Interest (EOI) were invited from companies offering scalable solutions, reinforcing Oman’s commitment to environmental sustainability and resource conservation,” the utility said.
Significantly, a number of corporate firms and startups are engaged in the conversion of Green & Bulky Waste (GBW) into commercially valuable products.
Wholly government-owned Nakheel Oman, a major player in Oman’s agriculture and food sector, converts green waste from its massive farms into compost and animal feed.
Local Omani sustainability specialist NTZ Solutions has emerged as a key player in the country’s expanding biochar production sector. Another firm Turbah specialises in transforming green waste into agricultural compost.
Biogas and biogenic CO2 Additionally, in line with its broader focus on environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality, be’ah is currently conducting a feasibility study to identify and quantify sources of biogenic CO2 – carbon dioxide produced by the combustion of biomass and organic materials. Industrial sources of biogenic CO2 include biogas and biofuel plants, Food and Beverage factories, composting and waste management facilities, and waste-to-energy plants.
“This project aims to explore innovative solutions for capturing, storing, and utilising CO2, contributing to Oman’s Net-Zero 2050 goals. The outcomes of this project are expected to support renewable energy initiatives and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said be’ah.
Also in be’ah’s sights are plans for a biogas project that uses anaerobic digestion to convert organic waste into renewable resources like electricity, biomethane, compost, and biogenic CO2.
In 2024, interested developers responding to a Request for Pre-Qualifications (RFQ) were evaluated for their expertise in establishing a biogas plant. A feasibility study has also emphasised the importance of market potential for outputs, highlighting the project’s role in advancing Oman’s clean energy goals.
However, be’ah’s flagship energy recovery initiative remains the long-proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) centring on the incineration of municipal waste to produce electricity. The project’s capacity, initially sized at 130-150 MW based on a daily feedstock of 4500 tonnes of municipal waste, has now been scaled down to 75 – 100 MW based on a feedstock supply of 3000 tonnes per day.
“In 2024, a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) highlighted its environmental, economic, and financial benefits. This initiative promotes resource efficiency by converting non-recyclable waste into renewable energy,” be’ah added in its report.
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