MUSCAT: be’ah, the municipal and solid waste management agency of the Sultanate of Oman, is pressing ahead with the implementation of an array of initiatives aimed at unlocking energy and other value streams from waste.
Projects in various stages of early development include a utility-scale Waste-to-Energy (WtE) scheme, biogas plant, reuse centre, green waste conversion, and assorted initiatives to support the recycling of, among other waste streams, Lead Acid Batteries (LAB), end-of-life tyres, construction and demolition waste, cardboard and paper, PET bottles, electrical and electronic waste, and used cooking oil.
Leading the list is a first-of-its-kind Waste-to-Energy project planned at Barka in South Al Batinah Governorate. be’ah is spearheading the initiative in collaboration with Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP), the sole procurer of new power and water capacity in Oman. be’ah, for its part, will supply municipal waste as feedstock for the proposed 140 MW capacity project – a move also aimed at slashing carbon emissions from landfills.
Pre-tendering documents for the Waste-to-Energy project have been finalized, according to be’ah. “This ambitious project aims to treat more than 70% of the municipal solid waste (MSW) produced annually in Oman. The primary objective of the WtE project is to recover waste and convert it into energy, specifically targeting waste that is non-recyclable and unfeasible for other forms of processing. Additionally, this project will support be’ah in achieving its strategic goal of reaching an 80% waste diversion rate by 2030,” it stated in its 2023 Sustainability Report.
Also making headway are plans for the development of a biogas plant at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). It seeks to harness organic waste to produce biogas, a renewable energy source. A Request for Pre-Qualification issued by be’ah last October seeks to ascertain interest from qualified developers in the delivery of the project.
Separately, be’ah and SQU are collaborating in the development of a Reuse Centre specializing in repurposing and recycling of materials – part of an effort to minimize waste and encourage sustainable consumption practices.
In North Al Batinah, be’ah has signed agreements with local Omani SMEs centring on the utilization of green waste ending up in the landfill at Suhar. The SMEs recycle and process and green waste into commercially valuable products, thereby unlocking value from this waste stream while reducing the landfill burden.
Additionally, in partnership with Oman Investment Authority’s Rawabet Programme, be’ah has launched a waste management initiative dubbed ‘Synergy’. “The primary objective of this initiative is to explore value retention opportunities from various waste streams and to provide comprehensive guidelines on best practices in waste management. This initiative aims to identify and capitalize on potential value within waste materials, promoting sustainability and efficiency in waste management processes,” said be’ah.
Other ongoing initiatives overseen by be’ah seek to manage the following waste streams: Used Cooking Oil, Lead Acid Batteries, Construction & Demolition, Paper & Cardboard, Electrical & Electronic Waste, Tyre Derived Waste, PET plastics, and so on.
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