Waste-to-Energy Projects Face Decade of Delays in Bangladesh
A Japanese firm has proposed to generate 12 to 15 megawatts of electricity daily from 1,000 tons of waste in Chattogram, reigniting discussions around sustainable waste management and energy solutions for the bustling port city. JFE Engineering recently submitted its proposal to the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), marking the latest in a series of similar initiatives that have largely stalled over the past decade.
The CCC has received proposals from at least 20 local and international entities over the last ten years to convert municipal waste into electricity, yet none have materialized. Officials attribute the lack of progress to several factors, including the absence of comprehensive and reliable feasibility studies from most applicants, land scarcity, bureaucratic delays in ministerial approvals, and environmental concerns.
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Conversely, prospective developers cite the absence of a clear government policy for such projects, ambiguity regarding which ministry oversees their implementation, and the involvement of multiple ministries and agencies as primary contributors to lengthy approval processes. Experts highlight the significant potential for waste-to-energy projects in urban centers, urging the government to adopt a coordinated strategy to overcome these hurdles. Such projects, they argue, could substantially reduce urban pollution and alleviate pressure on existing landfills.
Chattogram generates an average of 3,000 tons of waste daily, with the CCC collecting approximately 2,269 tons. Under current Mayor Shahadat Hossain, a consortium of foreign firms, DP Clean Tech UK Limited and Impact Energy Global, proposed a 36-megawatt waste-to-energy project under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. However, this proposal, forwarded by the CCC to the Ministry of Local Government, awaits approval.
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In June 2023, China’s Sevia-Czech-Orchard JV also offered to produce 30-40 megawatts of power from waste. The CCC sought 35 acres of land in Char Bakalia from the Ministry of Land for this project, but the application was rejected due to environmental concerns, effectively halting the initiative. Another Chinese company, Power China, proposed a similar project in October 2019, requesting 10 acres of land and a daily supply of 1,500 metric tons of waste from the CCC, but this too failed to advance.
Beyond these three, numerous other companies, including Nanotech Solution and Consultancy Limited, Technicas Reunidas Alfamar & CEEG Impact Energy, and Oakland Green Energy Limited, have submitted proposals for waste-to-energy projects over the last decade. These firms typically requested between 6 and 35 acres of land and a guaranteed daily waste supply ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 tons.
JFE Engineering’s proposal follows a feasibility study, supported by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, which was presented to the CCC on February 23. The study indicates that half of the city’s daily waste, or 1,000 tons, could generate 12 to 15 megawatts of electricity for the national grid. Such a project would reduce waste sent to landfills by 70-90%, extending their lifespan and mitigating environmental pollution, while also proving economically viable, according to the study.
Past governmental efforts, including initiatives by the Ministry of Local Government and the Power Development Board (PDB), have also faltered. In October 2018, the PDB signed a memorandum of understanding with the CCC to build a waste-to-energy plant, with the CCC agreeing to provide 2,500 tons of daily waste and free land. However, the CCC could not provide the 25 acres required for the 25-megawatt plant, leading to the proposal’s collapse.
Mohammad Ashraful Amin, acting chief executive officer of the CCC, told a local newspaper that besides land scarcity, a major impediment is the lack of complete and credible feasibility studies from most proponents. He noted that while waste-to-energy projects cost approximately 25-26 Taka per megawatt, the government purchases grid electricity at about 12 Taka, making them less attractive financially. The lengthy, multi-agency approval process further deters investors.
Engineer Golam Sarwar, an expert in Chattogram’s waste management, echoed these sentiments, stating that most proposals received by the CCC are incomplete or fragmented, hindering progress. Professor Kazi Delwar Hossain, Dean of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty at Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology, emphasized the strong potential for waste-to-energy in the city, advocating for modernizing waste management and implementing pilot projects with foreign funding. He stressed the critical need for a coordinated government plan to ensure their success.
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