Tweet
Four out of 12 interested companies have submitted formal bids to develop a waste to energy business in Jamaica. The bids, which were opened on January 19 this year closed on April 30 with only four companies, responding to the Request for Proposal.
Information reaching the Sunday Herald is that at least two of the four bidders are a consortium formed out of partnerships involving local and international players.
The bids are now being evaluated at an independent consultant and based on the ranking of the consultant a multi-agency team will make recommendations for the award of a contract. The waste to energy project is a crucial part of the Bruce Golding administration’s energy diversification programme involving the conversion of municipal and other waste to energy without the use of fossil fuel.
Some of the technologies for waste to energy are emerging and as such, a directive has been given that the preferred technology to be used in the project would be one which has been tried, tested and proven.
In addition, the technology ought to demonstrate that it can successfully operate in a commercial
environment.
The proposed waste to energy development is predicated on two sites, one adjacent to the Soapberry/Riverton Landfill in St. Andrew and a western facility adjacent to the Retirement Landfill in St. James.
It is understood that interest in the project was at crescendo up to March 19 this year when over 50 persons, 26 of whom were investor representatives attended a pre-bid meeting.
Subsequent to the pre-bid meeting there were two site visit where 12 potential investor/companies participated in both visits on March 17 and 18.
Arising from the waste to energy project, the government appears to have put plans on hold to relocate the Riverton Landfill, which continues to be plagued by fires, causing smoke nuisance to the many surrounding residential neighbourhoods.
It was announced two years ago that the landfill would be closed as it was situated to close residential areas and thereby exposing residents and other members of the public to health risks whenever fires break out at the landfill.
Speaking on radio last week, Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority NSWMA, Joan Gordon Webley, noted that rather than closing the dump the focus is now on converting solid waste to energy, as this would help reduce the risk of fires.
“There is and has been a tender process that has taken place where we are trying to bring in waste/energy project, the tenders have been out and there being looked at within the purview of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica PCJ” Gordon Webly said.
In the meantime, the Department of Local Government is spearheading the process to finalize a Waste to Energy Policy, which also involves the input of the office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Energy and Mining and the PCJ.
The expectation is that the waste to energy project, which was inherited from the previous People’s National Party government will lead to a reduction in the amount of fuel needed to supply Jamaica’s ever growing energy need. Jamaica produces approximately 1.4 million tonnes of municipal waste annually and with the use of technology Jamaica could convert this waste to electricity or bio fuel such as Ethanol, Bio-diesel or Syngas.
It is estimated that up to 60 megawatts of electricity or equivalent fuel can be generated from Jamaica’s waste.
This will obviate the need to import up to 150,000 barrels of oil annually needed for electricity.
http://www.sunheraldja.com/2009/07/g...nergy-project/
Information reaching the Sunday Herald is that at least two of the four bidders are a consortium formed out of partnerships involving local and international players.
The bids are now being evaluated at an independent consultant and based on the ranking of the consultant a multi-agency team will make recommendations for the award of a contract. The waste to energy project is a crucial part of the Bruce Golding administration’s energy diversification programme involving the conversion of municipal and other waste to energy without the use of fossil fuel.
Some of the technologies for waste to energy are emerging and as such, a directive has been given that the preferred technology to be used in the project would be one which has been tried, tested and proven.
In addition, the technology ought to demonstrate that it can successfully operate in a commercial
environment.
The proposed waste to energy development is predicated on two sites, one adjacent to the Soapberry/Riverton Landfill in St. Andrew and a western facility adjacent to the Retirement Landfill in St. James.
It is understood that interest in the project was at crescendo up to March 19 this year when over 50 persons, 26 of whom were investor representatives attended a pre-bid meeting.
Subsequent to the pre-bid meeting there were two site visit where 12 potential investor/companies participated in both visits on March 17 and 18.
Arising from the waste to energy project, the government appears to have put plans on hold to relocate the Riverton Landfill, which continues to be plagued by fires, causing smoke nuisance to the many surrounding residential neighbourhoods.
It was announced two years ago that the landfill would be closed as it was situated to close residential areas and thereby exposing residents and other members of the public to health risks whenever fires break out at the landfill.
Speaking on radio last week, Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority NSWMA, Joan Gordon Webley, noted that rather than closing the dump the focus is now on converting solid waste to energy, as this would help reduce the risk of fires.
“There is and has been a tender process that has taken place where we are trying to bring in waste/energy project, the tenders have been out and there being looked at within the purview of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica PCJ” Gordon Webly said.
In the meantime, the Department of Local Government is spearheading the process to finalize a Waste to Energy Policy, which also involves the input of the office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Energy and Mining and the PCJ.
The expectation is that the waste to energy project, which was inherited from the previous People’s National Party government will lead to a reduction in the amount of fuel needed to supply Jamaica’s ever growing energy need. Jamaica produces approximately 1.4 million tonnes of municipal waste annually and with the use of technology Jamaica could convert this waste to electricity or bio fuel such as Ethanol, Bio-diesel or Syngas.
It is estimated that up to 60 megawatts of electricity or equivalent fuel can be generated from Jamaica’s waste.
This will obviate the need to import up to 150,000 barrels of oil annually needed for electricity.
http://www.sunheraldja.com/2009/07/g...nergy-project/