Griffin Refineries to start construction of UAE’s first waste fuel plant
Plant expected to begin operations in September 2020
Following the financial close of the Emirates RDF waste fuel plant project in early May, Griffin Refineries has announced that it will soon start construction. The ‘state of the art’ plant will be located in Umm Al Quwain.
Emirates RDF is a joint-venture between UAE-based contractors Besix and TG Eco holding along with Griffin Refineries, according to a statement. The project is a public-private-partnership (PPP) and will run on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, with a 15-year post-construction operational phase, according to Griffin Refineries.
“We are happy to be able to develop this strategic project for waste management in the Northern Emirates. Emirates RDF contributes to the UAE strategic objective of landfill diversion of least 75% by 2021 and it helps cement plants in decreasing their use of fossil fuels,” said Nico de Koning, the project manager of Besix Concessions and Assets Middle East and GM of Emirates RDF.
Once the plant commences operations in September 2020, it will receive 1,000 tonnes of municipal waste per day from approximately 550,000 residents living in Umm Al Quwain and Ajman. The waste will be converted into an alternative energy source known as refuse derived fuel (RDF).
RDF is expected to be used as fuel in cement factories instead of coal and is expected to result in a diversion of at least 90% of household waste from landfills, the statement said.
