Worldwide Holdings to spend RM1b to develop waste-to-energy system in Selangor

SHAH ALAM (Dec 10): Worldwide Holdings Bhd, which is wholly owned by the Selangor state government, has allocated RM1 billion to develop a solid waste disposal and treatment system using Waste-To-Energy (WTE) technology that is targeted for completion in year 2024.

Today, it signed a joint development agreement with Western Power Clean Energy Sdn Bhd — a joint venture between China Western Power Industrial Co and China Western Power International — for the first phase of the project, which is a RM500 million WTE facility in Jeram, Selangor.

"We are indeed honoured to be given the trust by the state government to lead the way in WTE development for the state of Selangor. The first phase of our WTE plant at Jeram will be ready for commercial operation by 2020, while completion of the second phase is targeted by 2024," Worldwide Holdings chief executive officer Datin Paduka Norazlina Zakaria said during her speech at the signing ceremony today.

Development funding for the first phase of the project will be fully borne by Worldwide Holdings, while the state government has provided an allocation of RM40 million for land acquisition.

Norazlina said WTE is a waste management technology that is able to convert waste into energy in the form of electrical power. The technology uses solid waste as feedstock to heat up the plant's furnace and create steam which propels the turbine to generate electricity.

"The WTE plant currently being developed by Worldwide Holdings addresses all aspects of environmental issues through modern and high-tech treatment facilities in strict compliance with the EU standards. The technology we are adopting has proven track record, using similar waste characteristics in Malaysia," she said.

Apart from the WTE Plant, Worldwide Holdings' Integrated Solid Waste Management Center (ISWMC) — comprising a Material Recovery Facility for Construction and Demolition Waste, Anaerobic Digester, Research and Development Centre and Composting Plant — will be built on a 200-acre land adjacent to the company's current Jeram Sanitary Landfill.

On its partner for the first phase of the development, Norazlina said Western Power Clean Energy was chosen based on its proven capability in developing WTE plants in China and around the world.

"With your expertise in WTE technology, I am certain this project will be a new benchmark for solid waste management and renewable energy in Malaysia," she added.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, who was present to witness the signing ceremony, said the first phase of the facility will produce between 20-25 megawatt of green energy, from about 1,200 tonnes of waste capacity per day, enough to power 25,000 household within the vicinity of the plant.

"The plant is expected to reduce land use for landfill while supporting the [federal] government's aspiration of increasing renewable energy generation to 20% by year 2025," he said. — theedgemarkets.com

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