MUSCAT: Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (be’ah), the state-owned entity overseeing the management of municipal and solid waste in the Sultanate of Oman, says it is partnering with OQ Trading, the marketing arm of Omani energy group OQ, in enabling the capture and utilization of emissions from landfills across the country.
Landfill gas (LFG) is primarily composed of methane – a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) response for global warming and climate change. Through its partnership with OQ Trading, be’ah says it aims to harness these emissions for potential use as a fuel source or in the production of biogenic CO2 - a key resource in the production of low-carbon fuels and chemicals.
“By capturing this methane instead of allowing it to escape into the atmosphere, be’ah can significantly reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to climate change mitigation efforts. Additionally, by capturing and utilizing landfill gas (LFG), we can potentially earn carbon credits or renewable energy certificates, which can be sold or traded,” be’ah – part of Oman Investment Authority (OIA) – stated in its 2023 Sustainability Report.
OQ Trading, as part of its role in the partnership, will advise be’ah on initiatives with the potential for earning carbon credits. In addition, OQ Trading will provide throughout the project development, certification, verification, and sale of carbon credits in eligible markets.
Underscoring the potential for landfill gas capture in Oman, be’ah is already trapping emissions from the Barka and Al Multaqa landfills with the goal of capturing enough data to support applications for obtaining carbon credits against these sites.
“The process involves registering landfill cells, submitting data, and undergoing third-party verification and validation. This annual verification ensures accurate gas capture measurement and credit allocation. The closed cells in Barka and Al Multaqa are already in the monitoring and reporting phase, adhering to the standards mandated by verifying entities,” be’ah explained in its Sustainability Report.
Going forward, however, be’ah plans to register other landfill cells located across the country for carbon credits. Additionally, it aims to explore opportunities to utilize the captured gas, notably by converting it into biogenic CO2 or offering it for injection into the national gas network.
According to FAO experts, biogenic CO2 – or bio-CO2 - is a climate-friendly carbon source originating from biomass decomposition, digestion or combustion, holds immense potential for enhancing the circularity and climate benefits of biogas. It is a valuable feedstock for producing fuels, chemicals and materials, a process known as bio-carbon capture, utilization and storage (bio-CCUS).
As for project opportunities linked to the utilization of landfill gas, they will inevitably require significant capital and operating expenditures, “necessitating further studies and collaboration with key stakeholders”, added be’ah.
According to studies by be’ah, around 90 per cent of the agency’s greenhouse gas emissions stem from methane emanating from its landfills and other solid waste disposal sites. The next major source of GHG emissions is mobile combustion, with the sizable municipal waste collection fleet responsible for 95 per cent of these emissions.
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