Iraq signed a $497-million deal with China’s Shanghai SUS Environment to construct the country’s first waste-to-energy plant.
The facility will process 3,000 tonnes of waste daily and produce 100 MW of electricity, according to the National Investment Commission. The project is part of the country’s efforts to expand its reliance on clean energy.
Construction of the facility in Baghdad’s Nahrawan neighbourhood would start next month and take about two years to complete, Commission Chairman, Professor Dr Haider Muhammad Makiya, said at a press conference.
This project represents a practical challenge to address the serious environmental impacts from traditional landfill methods. It also reflects the government’s commitment to improved waste management and the conversion of waste into a sustainable energy source.
The second phase of the project is planned for Abu Ghraib. Makiya reported that the NIC’s Review and Approval Committee had visited equivalent projects operating with the same technology in China.
SUS Environment, founded in 2008, is “a leading provider of integrated environmental and energy services, dedicated to achieving sustainable development for both people and the environment.” Chinese companies are increasingly signing energy contracts in Iraq, where the daily amount of waste is estimated at 23 million tonnes.
