US$ 230 million investment:
BOI signs agreement with Malaysian firm
The BOI signed an agreement worth US$ 230 million with the
Malaysian-Bahraini joint venture Orizon Renewable Energy Private Ltd to
build a waste to energy plant. The plant will be built on a 20-acre land
at Kahatamedawelyaya, Muthurajawela, in the Gampaha District.
The project agreement was signed by BOI Board Members Channa
Palansuriya and Upali Samaraweera, Environmental Affairs and Natural
Resources Ministry Secretary Jayathilake and Octogon Consolidated Berhad
Executive Director and Orizon Renewable Energy Private Limited Siti
Fatima Mohamed Shariff.
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At the
agreement singing ceremony |
The project involves several phases. It will first engage in the
rehabilitation of the existing Bloemendhal dumpsite.
In addition the project also involves the construction and operation
of a new landfill for fresh water wastes from Colombo and the Western
Province.
The most important phase is the construction of a waste to energy
plant that will completely destroy up to 1,300 tonnes a day of solid
waste. Also important is that it will generate 56 Megawatts of power,
and export about 45 MW to the net power grid.
The main attraction to the public and to the country is that the
wastes will be completely destroyed without causing pollution or gas
emissions. It will also ensure that no more lands will be allocated to
landfills.
Another dimension is the reduction of health risks as many diseases,
such as dengue, have spread as a result of mosquitoes breeding in
landfills and other areas where waste is deposited.
The BOI is keen to have promoted this project since in addition to
the abovementioned benefits to the country, it has created many
opportunities for the training of skilled local workers. Since this is a
new area that has not existed in Sri Lanka, it will result in a certain
quantum of technology transfers to local communities.
BOI Deputy Director General A.M.C. Kulasekera said that the BOI has
taken the lead role in establishing this project but the stakeholder
agencies such as the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry, the
Sustainable Energy Authority, the Public Utilities Commission and the
Land Reclamation Authority also contributed immensely towards its
implementation. "The key to success is team work involving all
stakeholder agencies," he said.
Orizon Renewable Energy Chairman Siti Fatima Mohamed Shariff, said
that the project was very significant as it will add 55 MW to the
National Grid.
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