THE CAMBODIAN government is seeking a private partner to invest in a waste to energy plant to be developed in Phnom Penh.
Reports in Phnom Penh Post said the government had asked the Ministry of Mines and Energy to look into this.
The city generates more than 3,000 tonnes of rubbish daily and is currently faced with a waste management crisis.
A spokesman from the ministry, Victor Jona said they were currently preparing the relevant procedures for companies that want to participate in the auction for waste disposal rights in Phnom Penh.
Last week, the government revoked the business licence of Cintri (Cambodia) Ltd, Phnom Penh’s only waste disposal contractor, and will temporarily take over its services before putting waste disposal rights for auction.
In the past, the ministry issued up to six licences to foreign investment companies to assess the construction of a waste-to-energy plant.
However, after completion of the studies, only two companies sent documents to the ministry for review.
Apparently, the cost of the electricity generated from waste-burning was a major obstacle and the problem at the time was the high price.
Citing studies, Jona said electricity prices from a waste-burning plant would be in the range of US$0.14-US$0.15 per kWh.
The price of electricity from local hydropower plants currently stands at US$0.11.
However, Jona said producing electricity from rubbish is a must.
“An auction is needed to select a company to transform rubbish into electricity. We will run out of space for rubbish if we leave it unattended.”
Ham Oudom, a freelance consultant on natural resources governance, welcomes the investment in waste-to-energy electrical production as a renewable source.
Such investments not only address waste management but also reduce pollution.