The government officials performing the symbolic groundbreaking for the WTE plant in Jeram. — Photos: AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
THE largest waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in Malaysia, spanning 12.14ha, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the facility was the first of its kind in the state.
“This will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimise odours, produce zero leachate and generate up to 52MW of green energy for the national grid,” he said.
“It is capable of processing 3,000 tonnes of waste daily.”
Amirudin said seven local councils in Selangor had agreed to send waste to the WTE facility for processing, anticipating that the first plant would start operations in 2026.
“Today marks the beginning of the two phases of the WTE Jeram project, as it has received planning approval from Kuala Selangor Municipal Council (MPKS),” he said, explaining that the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the start of the project.
Amirudin (front, second from left) looking at a model of the 12.14ha WTE facility in Jeram.
“The two-phase approach is necessary due to the amount of the waste processed.
“About 70 to 80% of the landfill space will remain unused as a portion of the land is required for waste disposal,” said Amirudin during the groundbreaking ceremony for the WTE facilities at Jeram Integrated Solid Waste Management Centre in Jeram, Selangor.
The project is being managed by Worldwide Holdings Bhd in partnership with Shanghai Electric Power Generation (M) Sdn Bhd.
Also present were Worldwide Holdings group chief executive officer Datin Paduka Norazlina Zakaria, Shanghai Electric group EPC division president Sha Yunfeng, Selangor state secretary Datuk Haris Kasim, state public health committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin and state local government and tourism committee chairman Ng Suee Lim.
Amirudin said the Tanjung 12 landfill in Kuala Langat had about three more years left in its lifespan.
“We must also remember that landfills render a plot useless for 20 to 35 years and it will continue to be exposed to pests.
“The entire Klang Valley produces nearly 10,000 tonnes of waste, with Selangor alone contributing 7,000 tonnes daily,” he said, adding that was the reason Selangor could not continue using the landfill method for domestic waste.
“Although our current landfill management can generate approximately 4MW of energy from biomass, the entire ecosystem is unsustainable, and we will need to find a new site in another 20 to 30 years,” he said.
“By adopting this cutting-edge technology, Selangor can avoid locking up land for those number of decades and at the same time mitigate environmental issues associated with traditional landfills,” he added.
Amirudin said the state government was committed to the WTE project, which would prevent the loss of many hectares of good land to landfills.
“I believe this is the latest and safest technology suitable for managing solid waste in densely populated urban areas like Selangor,” he said.
