By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 17: Sarawak plans to develop three waste-to-energy plants in the northern, central and southern regions of the State, with a potential combined generation capacity of up to 1,330 megawatts (MW).
Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said the proposed plants would be supported by satellite collection centres to ensure waste from surrounding areas is collected and channelled systematically to the facilities.
He said the plants would generate energy through the incineration of various types of waste, including municipal waste, wood waste, biomass, animal waste and industrial waste.
“As you can see, the amount of energy we potentially can generate will be through the incineration process.
“This includes municipal waste, wood waste, biomass, animal waste and industrial waste, including your machinery and so on,” he said at the launch of BidMyAsset Borneo here today, as reported by TVS.
Dr Hazland said the initiative could serve a dual purpose by creating a new source of energy while addressing waste management challenges in the state.
He said the development was also aligned with Sarawak’s circular economy and environmental sustainability agenda, with the potential to reduce the volume of waste requiring disposal.
He added that the Sarawak government was moving towards strengthening the regulatory framework for waste-to-energy management, including a proposal to introduce a new ordinance next year.
“The government’s commitment to this ecosystem is very strong. We will continue to create the policy environment, regulatory clarity and institutional support needed by businesses to operate and invest here with confidence,” he said.
Dr Hazland said waste-to-energy development could also contribute to Sarawak’s efforts to strengthen energy security while promoting more sustainable use of resources.
“The implementation of this initiative needs to be viewed as part of a broader transformation of the state’s waste and energy management systems,” he said. — DayakDaily
