GWMC planning waste-to-fuel plant in Panaji

PANAJI: Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) plans to make a facility for converting waste into fuel at the Verna Industrial Estate, even though its last attempt at a similar experiment in Pernem had failed. This waste will primarily be non-recyclable waste, particularly plastic waste, which otherwise goes into landfills or the seas.

The state government spends a huge sum for transporting refuse-derived fuel (RDF) to Karnataka, at present. Goa generates 3000 tons of waste, which is transported to cement factories in Karnataka and burnt. Each truck carrying 15 tons of RDF costs about Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000. GWMC now plans to build a plant on 50,000 square meter land at Verna, which will generate steam or fuel to be used by factories and industries. It is hoped that this will cut the costs burdening the state and is also environment friendly measure.

The GWMC and IVL, Swedish Environmental Research Institute, had signed an agreement to conduct a pre-feasibility study in 2020, for constructing this waste-to-fuel plant in Verna. But no potential technology has been identified as yet.

In 2014, Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) had signed a pact with M K Aromatics Ltd to construct a waste-to-fuel plant at Pernem, but the plant is yet to produce high grade fuel efficiently. Similar efforts have been made by other nations as well, but one of the major problems to crop up is that not all types of plastic can be used. Plastic waste also contains dirt and other materials mixed in it which causes problems.