Selangor invests RM2b in three waste-to-energy plants

 

The Selangor government, through its subsidiary Worldwide Holdings Bhd, has invested about RM2 billion to develop three waste-to-energy (WTE) plants as part of a long-term plan to improve sustainable solid waste management in the state.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the facilities, located in Jeram and Tanjung Dua Belas in Kuala Langat, will help process a significant portion of the state’s domestic waste, currently estimated at 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes daily.

According to Worldwide Holdings, WTE Plant 1 in Jeram, which has already begun operations, can process up to 1,500 tonnes of waste per day and generate about 26 megawatts (MW) of electricity - enough to power about 26,000 households, depending on consumption patterns.

“When WTE 2 is completed and fully operational, waste management capacity in Jeram will increase to approximately 3,500 tonnes per day. The remaining 2,000 tonnes will be managed through WTE 3 in Tanjung Dua Belas.

“These three plants are expected to significantly reduce the amount of waste that must be sent to landfills.

“Of the projected 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes per day, only around 2,500 to 3,000 tonnes of non-combustible (inert) waste will continue to be disposed of in landfills,” he told the media after officiating the opening of WTE Plant 1 in Jeram today.

The event was also attended by the state executive councillor for local government and tourism, Ng Suee Lim, and Worldwide Holdings group CEO Norazlina Zakaria.

Rollout on track, close monitoring

On the project’s progress, Amirudin said WTE 2 is expected to be completed as early as October, or by November at the latest, while construction of WTE 3 has already commenced.

He said lessons from WTE 1 and WTE 2 - both of which began development in 2023 - indicate that each plant typically requires two to two-and-a-half years to complete.

“For the project in Jeram, there were several technical challenges, including the need to address buffer zone issues during construction, which caused the implementation period to take slightly longer,” he added.

WTE 3 is expected to begin operations by late 2027 or early 2028, completing the state’s integrated WTE network and enhancing both waste management efficiency and renewable energy output.

Amirudin also assured that all WTE operations comply with strict standards set by the Environment Department (DOE).

He said a centralised monitoring system at the plant’s control room enables real-time transmission of operational data and emissions readings directly to the DOE.

“We practice a high level of transparency and will continue to ensure that all criteria and standards set by the authorities are fully complied with,” he added.

- Bernama