Dhaka north mayor eyes waste-based power plant, China approaches

Dhaka north city mayor Annisul Huq has an ambitious plan to free city dwellers of roadside waste that stinks -- and China promises technologies to achieve that.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 13 June 2015, 07:25 AM
Updated : 13 June 2015, 07:25 AM

He said on Saturday that he wants to build “mid-stations” by Jan 1 next year so that waste collected from homes can be managed there before reaching the final landfill site.

Currently, small vans carry home waste and pile up at an open space before big cars collect them to dump at the landfill site on Dhaka suburbs.

This process pollutes environment and creates foul smell. Dhaka city produces around 5,000 tonnes of garbage a day.

The Mayor inaugurating the second international conference on ‘future of sustainable energy’, an event of Chinese companies, said he would build 72 mid-stations where the waste would be managed before dumping to final landfills.

He said he had targeted to build those by Jan 1. “But it’s not easy. We don’t have lands.”

He said the north city corporation has 36 wards and he would try to get a small piece of land from each ward.

“My priority has shifted to waste management and use of waste,” the businessman turned politician said: “With the Dhaka waste, at least 100MW power can be generated.”

He said Chinese and Korean companies were approaching both him and his south city colleague Sayeed Khokan on these proposals.

One Belt and One Road strategy

Leading Chinese construction and investment company, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) Renewable Energy along with a Chinese photovoltaic company Solarland are jointly organising the conference on sustainable energy.

Solarland is the leading seller of photovoltaic products in Bangladesh as solar energy is gaining popularity among poor Bangladeshis who remained out of grid power reach.

The conference, which is second of its kind, also introduces new partner companies who are willing to do business in Bangladesh.

The organiser introduced Guolian Huaguang Power Engineering Co. Ltd (GHPE), known for garbage-fired power plant in China, and KIPOR Power, generator based power system.

President of the CMEC Renewable Energy ‘John’ (English name) said they were expanding their businesses since the introduction of China’s ‘One Belt and One Road’ strategy.

The idea of ‘one belt and one road’ is mainly based on the economy, on which Chinese companies not only sell their products outside, they also offer ideas and new solutions, he said.

He said they had expanded their business to Germany and West Africa and now focused on Bangladesh.

“I am here again this time to further explore the possibility of conducting our business in Bangladesh,” he said.

“We see great potentials of renewable energy sector in Bangladesh”.