By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Aug 1: Sarawak is planning to build two waste-to-energy incinerators to enhance waste management from Kuching to Limbang, creating value and generating revenue from waste while minimizing pollution within a circular economy.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU) has been tasked with studying and planning these projects, which will incur substantial investment.
He suggested zoning the divisions into two sectors with one incinerator serving the southern part, comprising Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, and Betong, and another incinerator catering for the northern zone, covering Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri up to Limbang.
A site to build the incinerator facility will be identified for each zone after the study has been finalised by EPU, including the budget required.
“But leave it to the Sarawak government to look for the funding. With environmental sustainability part of Sarawak’s agenda, landfills are no longer a solution as they only accumulate waste underground which produces gases and could disrupt the quality of soil. Waste in landhills has no value while the land is wasted.
“As cities grow, the population will increase along with waste generation in any local authorities. To minimise waste and pollution, Sarawak must transform its way of managing all wastes and there must be a long term policy for that,” he said after officiating the 36th anniversary celebration of Kuching City at Kuching South City Council (MBKS) here today.
He highlighted that with incinerators, at least 50 per cent of the waste can be recovered, providing investment returns compared to environmentally harmful landfills.
Abang Johari revealed that the project aims to emulate Sweden’s model, as its economic scale is similar to Sarawak, with a population of nearly three million.
He shared that Sweden, with a population of five million, is selling energy generated from waste apart from importing waste for its circular economy.
To implement the incinerators, Abang Johari explained that a reasonable volume of waste is necessary, and Kuching currently generates an average of 700 tonnes of waste per day.
“Incinerators can transform waste into energy, which is considered renewable. With zoning, we can collect and manage waste as raw material for other products, especially to generate energy. This approach allows Sarawak to manage waste better and be a progressive city at the forefront of environmental sustainability,” he added.
The study is expected to conclude by the end of the year or the first quarter of 2025. If all goes well, implementation could begin in 2026.
If Sarawak’s population increases further, another incinerator facility may be considered.
Premier’s wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Minister of Utility Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environment Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, and Kuching North City Council (DBKU) Mayor Hilmi Othman were among those present. — DayakDaily
