Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology Aminath Shauna has revealed the fieldwork for the project to build a waste-to-energy plant in Thilafushi will begin next year. She said the waste-to-energy plant will be able to generate 10-12MW of electricity and will be connected to the main power grid of the Greater Male’ Region.
The waste-to-energy plant will require specific types of waste to generate electricity. Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO) stated that it would be too cumbersome and costly for workers in Thilafushi to separate and collect the waste needed for the plant and that the solution is for waste to be separated prior to collection.
Speaking on the issue, Minister Shauna said that policies will be implemented, to transfer waste from waste transfer stations to Thilafushi after they are separated and packed into containers, by the time the waste-to-energy plant comes into operation. The minister also said the project will eliminate the landfills in Thilafushi and allow Maldivians and tourists to visit the island for recreational purposes. She also said that around 500-700 tonnes of waste are brought to Thilafushi each day and that the island would reach its capacity within three years if sustainable waste management solutions are not implemented.
The government launched the Greater Male' Environmental Improvement and Waste Management Project in 2021. The project is being conducted in two phases, and the work to build infrastructure in the first phase has been completed and smoke emissions from Thilafushi, which caused severe air pollution, have now ceased.
The first phase of the project involves establishing a sustainable solid waste management system in the Greater Male' Region as well as Kaafu Atoll, Alifu Alifu Atoll, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll, and Vaavu Atoll. The second phase of the project involves establishing a waste-to-energy plant in Thilafushi, which will process 500 tonnes of waste to generate energy.
The government has stated the project is expected to be completed in 2023 and will solve 60% of the waste management problems in the country.