UAE to construct MSW plant for alternative fuel production

The UAE will soon start construction and operation of a municipal solid waste treatment (MSW) plant and alternative fuel production plant in the northern emirate of Umm Al Qaiwain. The initiative by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has signed an agreement for the project with NV Besix, TG Eco Holding and UK-based Green Revenires.

The 40ha plant will come up in Al Madfaq area around 20km north of Umm Al Qaiwain and 2.5km west of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road. It is expected to become operational in the 2Q20.

The plant is being built at a cost of AED132m (US$36m) and will utilise the latest technologies to produce alternative fuel from solid waste. It will have a maximum capacity of 1800tpd of solid waste, which will be used to produce alternative fuel.

The project is the first of its kind in the country and aims to treat solid waste from Ajman and Umm Al Qaiwain, to provide alternative energy for cement factories that traditionally rely on coal.

Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the project was in line with the country's sustainable development goals, as well as the goals of the National Agenda of the UAE Government 2021 to treat 75 per cent of solid municipal waste using alternative methods instead of dumping in landfills, through utilising the latest international environmentally-friendly technologies.