In a proactive step towards addressing the ongoing power crisis, the Bangladesh government has announced construction for its inaugural waste-to-energy incineration plant on July 20.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lay the foundation stone at Amin Bazar, according to the Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Tazul Islam.

A preparatory meeting was held on Thursday by the ministry, in collaboration with the Dhaka North City Corporation, to initiate the construction of the innovative ‘waste-to-energy incineration plant’ at the Amin Bazar landfill.

Highlighting the underutilization of the country’s abundant waste, Minister Tazul explained that the waste-to-energy route was chosen as a sustainable solution.

In 2021, the Local Government Division, Power Development Board, and Dhaka North City Corporation signed a contract with the China Machinery Engineering Corporation to embark on a waste-to-energy project. The corporation will be provided with 30 acres of land to implement the project, and the government has already acquired the land at a cost of Tk 3.36 billion.

Once operational, the incineration plant will utilize 3,000 tonnes of waste daily as raw material, ensuring the effective utilization of Bangladesh’s waste resources. Remarkably, the government has not made any financial investment in the project, as the Power Division will directly purchase the electricity generated by the plant. The plant is anticipated to produce 42.5 MW of electricity daily, which will be more cost-effective than diesel-generated power.

The electricity output is projected to be integrated into the national grid by October 2025.
Enthusiastic about the prospects of waste-to-energy technology, the Prime Minister has authorized the construction of similar plants in Chattogram, Gazipur, and Narayanganj, as revealed by Minister Tazul. To ensure the uninterrupted supply of waste to the incineration plant, a contract has been signed with the Chinese company stipulating fines of $3,000 for non-compliance with the daily waste supply agreement.

Similarly, the company will be liable for the same amount in fines if they fail to meet the predetermined power output.

The Dhaka North City Corporation currently generates approximately 3,500 tonnes of mixed waste on a daily basis, according to DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam. After appropriate filtering to remove construction materials, human waste, and animal waste, this waste will be directed to the incineration plant for power generation.

The State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid, has confirmed that the electricity produced from waste will be purchased at a subsidized rate of around Tk 21, ensuring consumer affordability.

With the groundbreaking initiative of constructing the waste-to-energy incineration plant, the Bangladesh government is tackling the power crisis and taking a significant step towards sustainable and environmentally friendly energy production. By harnessing the potential of waste resources, the nation is poised to make substantial progress in transitioning to cleaner and greener energy alternatives.