HAPPY PARTNERSHIP: Representatives from Consortium of JFE Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd and Tsukishima Engineering Malaysia Sdn Bhd (from left to right) Shigeki Minami, Kazuyosmi Fukuda with SWM directors, Jurgen Pickenhagen and Datuk Fong Joo Chung after the signing of the contract.
KUCHING: Sarawak is presently the only state in Malaysia with an Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) in place, which allows for the management of both municipal and hazardous waste in a holistic and integrated manner.
The 25-year concession is held by Sarawak Wastes Management Sdn Bhd (SWM); a joint venture company formed by the Sarawak state government and Trienekens GmbH of Germany.
A core element of the ISWMS is the Kuching Integrated Waste Management Park (KIWMP); South East Asia’s first and only integrated waste management facility. KIWMP receives, treats and disposes waste from across east Malaysia, with one of the facility’s main components being an incineration plant for the thermal treatment and disposal of scheduled waste, including clinical and pathological waste.
The incineration plant not only functions to incinerate hazardous waste but also has control emissions system, resulting in a significant reduction of harmful bi-products and air pollutants produced. All of KIWMP’s operating units are fully licensed by the Department of Environment.
As Sarawak is becoming more industrialised, the state is facing a corresponding escalation of waste production; in particular, a surge in the generation of industrial hazardous waste.
In a proactive move to mitigate the negative impacts brought around by development, SWM recently formalised a contract with Japanese developers Consortium of JFE Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd and Tsukishima Engineering Malaysia Sdn Bhd to undertake the design, build, testing and commissioning of KIWMP’s second incineration plant.
The partnership with the Japanese incineration specialists as the successful bidder of the turnkey contract follows several years of research and feasibility studies.
According to SWM director and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd’s executive chairman, Jurgen Pickenhagen, “The ability to develop an effective incineration plant with the proper use of environmentally sound technologies seriously takes a number of technical, financial, institutional, economic and social factors into consideration, and requires comprehensive data on present and anticipated waste situations, besides technical expertise and knowledge of policy frameworks.
“The new facility will be able to process up to 60 tonnes of scheduled waste a day, which is in line with the research data on present and anticipated generation of industrial hazardous waste in the state. This is a major step forward to deliver a sustainable solution to Sarawak’s scheduled waste needs, besides creating job opportunities for local people, suppliers and businesses.
“As the project’s management consultant, Trienekens will continue to work positively with all statutory authorities and local residents to ensure that the project undergoes full and proper scrutiny.”
Construction works are scheduled to commence in mid 2013, and will adopt Japanese incineration technology. The plant will be equipped with dual fuel burner system capable of utilising either diesel or landfill gas or both as auxiliaries during incineration process.