Following up Abu Rawash waste-to-energy scheme

Sarah Saad

Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Salah Eddin and Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad on Monday followed up the national project to establish a municipal solid waste treatment (waste-to-energy) plant in Abu Rawash, Giza.

The meeting between the two ministers came in response to directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on monitoring the progress of the new solid waste system, Salah Eddin said.

Minister Salah Eddin explained that the waste-to-energy (WtE), or energy-from-waste (EfW, plant is being carried out within the framework of a protocol signed between the Ministries of Military Production, Local Development, and Environment, and the Giza Governorate.

The projects aims to convert waste into energy with a capacity of 1.200 tons/day to produce electricity estimated at 30 megawatts/hour.

“The Ministry of Local Development is responsible for monitoring all phases of the project, from implementation to commercial operation, when it will be connected to the national grid, Salah Eddin said.

“Abu Rawash is the first stage of a larger programme leading to partnerships with

private companies specialised WtE, as well as a 50 per cent reduction in

solid and sanitary waste pollution by 2030,” he added.

For her part, Minister  of Environment stressed the importance of such WtE projects, noting that Abu Rawash will contribute to a clean and healthy environment.

“It will reduce the amount of waste in sanitary landfills, and help avoid its accumulation, which leads to environmental damage and emissions,” Fouad said.

She stressed her ministry’s keenness on working with the authorities concerned to support the new waste management system in line with the state’s strategy to transition towards green economy.

Minister Foaud said that the investment map shows that there are approximately 42 million tons of agricultural waste produced annually.

The ministry is hard at work, in co-operation with the concerned authorities to make optimal use of agricultural waste, increase its economic value, and turn it into a green business opportunity.