Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, known as be’ah, has received three bids for the construction of a Landfill Gas-to-Energy system in the country.
The bids, submitted as part of an international tender for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of systems at the Barka and Al Multaqa landfills, include offers from local and international firms.
Financial bids were opened on September 17, 2024, after an extension from the original deadline.
The bidders are Ahmed Soliman Al Fahhad and Sons with 1.58 million Omani rials ($4.1 million), Veolia with OMR 1.58 million ($4.11 million), and Al Ramooz National at OMR 1.64 million ($4.3 million).
While the EPC tender did not offer many specifics about the scope of the project, be’ah’s sustainability report sheds light on its long-term vision. The company plans to capture landfill gas and use it to generate carbon credits or renewable energy certificates (RECs), which can be traded in global markets.
As part of this strategy, be’ah has partnered with OQ Trading to identify and certify carbon credit projects. Together, they aim to develop systems that will allow be’ah to certify and sell these credits in eligible international markets.
Be’ah is already capturing gas at the Al Multaqa and Barka landfills, with plans to obtain carbon credits for the facilities. Future plans also involve expanding to other landfills across Oman to capture more landfill gas and potentially convert it into biogenic CO2, or even integrate it into the national gas network.
The company is looking at a variety of technologies that would help make Oman’s waste management efforts more sustainable and energy-efficient.
Oman’s be’ah is collaborating with Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP) on a Waste-to-Energy (WtE) project. The project aims to process over 70% of Oman’s annual municipal solid waste and divert 80% of the country’s waste away from landfills by 2030, aligning with Oman’s Vision 2040.
According to PWP’s feasibility study, the WtE plant will be developed under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model and is expected to generate between 130 and 140 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The plant’s Commercial Operation Date (COD) is projected for the second quarter of 2028.
The WtE project is part of a growing global trend toward waste-to-energy solutions, which aim to convert solid waste into renewable power.
The process typically involves three main steps: first, waste is incinerated; second, the heat from incineration is used to produce steam; and third, that steam powers a turbine to generate electricity. This technology is seen as a reliable method for reducing the amount of waste going to landfills, while also producing renewable energy.
Experts suggest that waste-to-energy projects have the potential to offset some of the environmental damage caused by traditional waste disposal methods, such as landfilling and open burning, both of which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Modern waste-to-energy plants are equipped with advanced flue gas treatment systems, which filter out harmful pollutants, ensuring that emissions from the plants are far cleaner than in older facilities. While this technology has been around for over a century, improvements in emission control and waste processing efficiency have made it more viable in today’s context of stringent environmental regulations and climate change mitigation efforts.
Oman generates a substantial amount of municipal solid waste annually, and the WtE plant will not only reduce this waste but also generate much-needed renewable energy for the country.
In addition to its waste-to-energy ambitions, be’ah is also focused on completing the second phase of its hazardous waste treatment project in Sohar.
According to the latest annual report from the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), be’ah is currently in talks to secure financing for this phase of the project, although details about the financing partners and the amount required have not yet been disclosed.
The first phase of the project, which is already operational, includes three landfills and facilities for treating industrial waste. The second phase will add a solidification plant and laboratories for further waste treatment processes.
Globally, waste-to-energy is increasingly seen as a critical part of the solution to managing both municipal and industrial waste. While the technology faces challenges such as high capital costs, regulatory hurdles, and concerns over emissions, proponents argue that it offers a sustainable alternative to traditional waste disposal methods.
Modern waste-to-energy facilities, like the Warsan plant in Dubai, have implemented stringent environmental safeguards to address these challenges. These safeguards include advanced emission control systems that capture toxic substances before they can be released into the atmosphere, making the technology far safer than older waste disposal methods.
