by Yasir Habib Khan  

 

To launch “Waste Economy” in Pakistan, Chinese companies are likely to be engaged to generate power from waste in Lahore, the densely urbanized metropolitan of Punjab, and the emerging economic hub of Pakistan. The initiative will pave the way to add clean energy to the National grid and allow the government to convert trash into profit.  

 

The fresh development came into view on the revelations of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) officials in a talk with Gwadar pro. A plan to generate 15 to 20MW of electricity from Lahore's garbage is under consideration, he added.  

 

Capitalizing Chinese technology and embedded collaborations with Chinese enterprises on electricity production modes and modalities with the Pakistan government, the Punjab administration is weighing up options to invite Chinese firms soon. In this connection, Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) organized a seminar regarding the first-of-its-kind project of Waste to Energy. Local Government Provincial Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal, LWMC CEO Ali Sultan, and other waste management experts attended the seminar and discussed in detail the Waste to Energy Project. 

 

In 2018, LWMC also signed a contract with a Chinese firm namely “Lahore Xingzhong Renewable Energy Co. Ltd” to generate electricity from an estimated 1.9 million tonnes of waste lifted and disposed of at the landfill site (Lakhodair) every year.  

 

For the establishment of the Waste to Energy (WTE) project, Punjab Power Development Board (PPDB) issued a Letter of Interest (LOI) to Lahore Xingzhong Renewable Energy Co. Ltd (Chinese company) as Independent Power Producer (IPP) for the establishment of approximately 40 MW WtE project; M/s China ENFI Engineering corporation (ENFI) JV with M/s MCC Tongsin Resources Limited (MCCT).  

 

It conducted a feasibility study for installing Grate Incineration Waste to the Energy plant. It planned to build a domestic WtE power plant with 2000 t/d waste processing capacity, equipped 3 sets of 670 t/d grate waste incineration furnaces and 2 sets of rated 20 MW condensing turbo-generator sets. The average waste Calorific Value (CV) assessed was 6220 kJ/ kg. 

 

LWMC assured to supply 2000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) on daily basis for 40 MW WtE project and further assured 3000 Tons/Day waste supply to PPDB for next WtE Projects for Investors as IPP in Lahore, as many investors showed their interest for investment in WtE Project. 

 

“Pakistan generates about 48.5 million tons of solid waste a year, which has been increasing more than 2 percent annually. Like other developing countries, Pakistan lacks waste management infrastructure, creating serious environmental problems. Most municipal waste is either burned, dumped, or buried on vacant lots, threatening the health and welfare of the general population,” environmentalist Javed Iqbal said.  

 

China has the largest installed waste-to-energy capacity of all countries, with more than 300 plants in operation. This capacity has increased annually by 26% over the past five years, compared with just 4% average growth in capacity in OECD countries. 

 

Interest in waste-to-energy technologies is growing, with the global market estimated to be worth $40 billion by 2023, according to the World Energy Council.