KUCHING: Sarawak has achieved another significant milestone in its sustainability agenda as Sarawak Waste Management Sdn Bhd has successfully generated electricity from solid waste through the development of a waste-to-energy plant prototype capable of producing up to 5 kilowatts (kW) of power.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, said the achievement demonstrates the strong potential of waste as a new economic resource, in line with the circular economy approach actively pursued by the state government.

He noted that Sarawak is currently facing the generation of approximately 700 tonnes of solid waste daily, with the figure expected to rise in tandem with population growth and changing consumption patterns.

“The prototype I mentioned earlier, which I observed just now, is very promising as it is able to extract gas from waste, convert it into hydrogen, and through that hydrogen, generate electrical energy.

“At present, it depends on the gas reaction itself, where the plant is capable of generating around 5 kW of energy from 700 tonnes of waste. The energy supply can be further increased. At the same time, the air is also purified,” he said.

He made these remarks while speaking during an official visit and briefing on the Gas-to-Energy Cogeneration Prototype at the Kuching Integrated Waste Management Park (KIWMP) in Mambong on Monday.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari further emphasised that Sarawak draws inspiration from Scandinavian countries such as Finland, which have demonstrated success in managing waste efficiently while generating economic returns for the government.

With increasing investments and industrial activities in the state, he stressed that the adoption of advanced technologies in waste treatment is crucial to ensure that all forms of waste are fully utilised.

“Certainly, these activities also produce waste, whether scheduled waste or other forms, which require us to apply the latest technologies to treat and convert them into something beneficial.

“This effort will not only benefit the people but also Sarawak as a whole, and in time, we can become a truly clean and environmentally friendly region in Malaysia,” he added.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Secretary and Chairman of Sarawak Waste Management Sdn Bhd Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Deputy Minister for Transport Sarawak Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Director, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Waste Management Sdn Bhd Stephen Chin as well as other distinguished guests. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Jonnie Kiew
Photo: Ibanez Jeffery Guang & George S. Embie
Translator: Uilson Ng