Published on 19/05/2015
Businesses see future in refuse, says FTI Businesses are ready to invest in waste-to-energy projects nationwide, expecting
several investment projects worth up to 45 billion baht to kick off from the second half of this year until the end of 2016, says the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). More than 20 firms in the renewable energy sector are expected to invest in waste-to-energy projects producing a combined capacity of 500 megawatts. Of this, the first viable group that is due to start would produce a combined capacity of 300 MW. Based on volume of solid waste and population size, 31 municipalities including Chiang Mai, Phuket, Nakhon Ratchasima and Rayong have the potential to develop waste-to-energy projects. Pichai Tinsuntisook, chairman of the FTI's renewable energy industry club, said members that were ready to invest in such projects included PTT Plc, Premier Group, Gunkul Engineering Plc, Chai Watana Tannery Plc and all cement makers in Thailand. The renewable energy projects could help to reduce new solid waste by up to 3 million tonnes a year, while another 1 million tonnes of old waste in landfills could be destroyed each year, he said. Thailand produces an annual average of 60 million tonnes of solid waste. Only 24 million tonnes are incinerated or recycled, while the remaining 36 million are dumped in landfills. Global Power Synergy Plc (GPSC), the SET-listed power business arm of national oil and gas conglomerate PTT, is designing a 10-MW refuse-derived fuel (RDF) system for a power plant worth 1.2 billion baht in Rayong. Jaruwat Singsomdee, GPSC's biomass business development manager, said construction of the RDF plant was due to start this year. The plant's operations are scheduled to begin in 2017. The GPSC plant is expected to serve as a pilot project that will be visited by local administrative officials in order to create good understanding among people and to avert possible protests by local communities.
Meanwhile, Chai Watana Tannery, Thailand's top manufacturer and exporter of leather finished products, yesterday also announced a plan to diversify business into the renewable energy sector by joining with strategic partners Zero Waste Co, a local waste-to-energy technology venture, and Lawi Engineering Co, a local construction firm. The group agreed to develop renewable energy projects and expects to be granted four licences by July to start developing the projects. President Weerapon Chaiteerath said each project would have a powergenerating capacity of 10 MW with a combined investment of 8.3 billion baht. The renewable energy business is expected to generate revenue of 500 million baht a year or 45% of its annual revenue of 918 million from its tannery operations last year.