Govt to call international tender for incinerators next year

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012 - 22:04 Malay mail

by Ikram Ismail

SHAH ALAM: International tenders, open to capable local and foreign contractors, will be called next year to built waste incinerators in the country.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said the decision was made following a three-week working lab in March aimed at identifiying the best incineration system to be implemented in the country.

"The tender will be open so we can find participants who can offer us the latest technology," he said after visiting Worldwide Holdings Berhad's Solid Waste Transfer Station at Section 21 today.

Chor said his ministry had visited plants in several countries including Singapore to identify the suitable technology for Malaysia.

"We will consider those who can incorporate green technology and offer a system that will not cause adverse effects on people's health and the environment," Chor said.

"We target the plants to be constructed at high-density areas such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and others," he said, adding that a proposal by Kuala Lumpur City Hall to built an incinerator at Taman Beringin was still being studied.

The plant is expected to accommodate 800 and 1,000 tonnes of waste daily and estimated to cost between RM500 million to RM800 million.

At present, there are four incinerators in Malaysia, one each in Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Pangkor and Cameron Highlands. The fifth incinerator in Labuan, Sabah is expected to be completed soon.