SELANGOR’S first waste-to-energy plant is operating under live monitoring by the Environment Department (DOE), Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari says.
He said the Waste-to-Energy Plant 1 (WTE1) at the Integrated Solid Waste Management Centre in Jeram was required to comply with DOE guidelines, especially on emissions control.
According to Amirudin, the plant’s control room provides direct information to DOE, allowing the department to monitor WTE1's operations and environmental performance.
“There are certain requirements, including combustion limits, preventing dioxin from being released and controlling dust emissions.
“So far, after one month of operations, everything is within the required capacity and standard,” he told reporters after officiating the launch of WTE1 operations.
He was responding to concerns that incinerator technology was often linked to air pollution and whether the state could give assurances on public health.
Amirudin said data from the plant could be made public, stressing that the state has no issue answering questions on its performance, environmental compliance and safety.
“This can be reported. We can answer anytime, any question. We want to be transparent,” he said.
He added that the plant’s energy output had reached almost 100%, while environmental controls had complied with the requirements set.
According to Worldwide Holdings Bhd, WTE1 can process up to 1,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily and generate a net electricity output of 26MW, enough to power about 26,000 homes depending on household consumption.
The facility started its operation on May 13.
Amirudin said WTE1 would help Selangor reduce dependence on landfills, although landfill sites were still needed for inert waste such as construction waste and residue from the waste-to-energy process.
He said the Jeram facility would eventually be expanded with WTE2, which was expected to be completed by the end of the year, possibly as early as October or November.
Together with the Tanjung Dua Belas WTE facility under development, Selangor is expected to be able to process up to 5,500 tonnes of waste daily through waste-to-energy technology.
However, Amirudin said the state still produced about 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of waste daily, meaning some waste would still have to be sent to landfills.
On infrastructure around the Jeram plant, Amirudin acknowledged that roads and other facilities in the area needed upgrading.
The Mentri Besar said this was not only due to the WTE plant, but also because of rapid industrial growth in the surrounding area.
He said Kuala Selangor Municipal Council (MPKS) would have to look into the matter, while state infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim would monitor road access to the disposal and waste management area.
“We agree there is a need to improve the existing infrastructure, especially the roads,” he said.
On the proposed Batu Arang WTE project, Amirudin said any such project must meet requirements set by the relevant agencies, including obtaining approval for the Environmental Impact Assessment.
He said if the site was found unsuitable from an environmental perspective or if the requirements could not be met, other site options may have to be considered.
