ABU DHABI: Tadweer, the Centre of Waste Management in Abu Dhabi, has signed five contracts worth Dh165 million to establish new waste treatment facilities including converting landfill gas to energy in the emirate.
The centre aims to convert landfill gas to energy, and by September it is expected to be commissioned to produce about five megawatts of power.
The centre signed a contract with Green Energy Solutions and Sustainability for the first landfill gas to energy investment project in the Middle East at Al Dhafra Landfill, which is the largest landfill in Abu Dhabi.
The project will prevent emission of Green-House Gases (GHG) from the landfill to the atmosphere and it will be registered with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for carbon credit.
Two new contracts were signed with Ramky and BRS Ventures, a joint venture for medical and hazardous waste incineration projects in Abu Dhabi, and a contract with CleanCo in Al Ain.
The facilities in Abu Dhabi will be able to treat about 15,000 tonnes of medical and hazardous waste per year, while the Al Ain facility will be able to treat about 3,000 tonnes of waste annually. Both projects will be operational by the end of 2018.
The contracts were made public at Tadweer booth at the EcoWASTE Exhibition, which is being held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The new contracts highlight upcoming waste management projects in the capital and are expected to generate significant employment opportunities.
Falah Al Ahbabi, chairman of Tadweer, said, “These new projects will contribute to sustainable waste management and environmental protection by treatment of hazardous waste, reducing landfill waste and reducing GHG emissions. These landmark contracts will enable Tadweer to fulfil its commitment of ensuring a safe and sustainable future for the next generations.”
Recycling used oil
This year, Tadweer will also be working with Blue Al Serkal for recycling of used cooking oil to produce biodiesel and fatty acids, which in turn will be used for manufacturing soaps.
The biodiesel produced will be confirming to the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority [Esma] standards and will be certified for quality conformity by Abu Dhabi Quality Conformity Council.
The facility is expected to collect and treat about 20,000 litres per day of used cooking oil from the hotels, restaurants and commercial kitchens.
It will also will help protect the blockage of the sewer systems in Abu Dhabi by preventing draining of used cooking oil into the sewer system. Both companies will be purchasing the used cooking oil from commercial establishments.
Saeed Al Mehairbi, acting general manager of Tadweer, said, “This year being the Year of Zayed, with the awarding of these new high-value investment contracts, we are confident that it will help further raise the standard of waste management in Abu Dhabi and generate significant employment opportunities in Abu Dhabi.”
All these projects will be based in an Eco-Park being developed by the Centre of Waste Management (CWM) next to Al Dhafra Landfill, where all future waste treatment, recycling and resource recovery facilities will be located.
