Oman completes privatisation of municipal waste management

With big plans for the modernisation of its waste management operations under way, including a transfer of the existing national infrastructure to international operators, Oman is nearing completion of major reforms in the sector.

The Oman Environmental Services Holding Company — also known as Be’ah — is close to completing the transfer of waste management operations in each of its 11 governorates to international operators. The move is part of a waste management plan that aims to modernise and restructure the handling, treatment and disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) and expand the country’s capacity for recycling and waste-based energy generation. Companies having been awarded contracts include Spain’s Urbasar, which is currently working for the Al Batinah South Governorate; Dubai-headquartered Averda, which won the contract to manage Al Dakhiliyah and Dhofar; and a joint venture between Oman’s Al Ramooz and France’s Veolia for operations at Al Dhahirah and Buraimi.

Al Batinah North and Musandam will be operated by a consortium between Oman’s Khimji Ramdas, the UAE’s Imdaad and India’s Ramky Enviro Engineers. South Al Sharqiyah has been awarded to Suma from Portugal. Details of the two biggest contracts — for operations in Muscat — are still to be announced.

Part of the handover process includes a move by Be’ah to permanently close all of the country’s 317 dumpsites, which have been deemed environmentally and hygienically unsuitable. The dumpsites will then be replaced by 1011 engineered landfill sites and 18-25 transfer stations. Over 220 dumpsites have been closed with the remainder set for closure by early 2019, according to Mohammed Sulaiman al Harthy, executive vice-president for development at Be’ah.

The transfer of MSW management to the private sector is a key step in Oman’s strategy to transform the country’s waste into an economic and environmental benefit. Be’ah aims to divert 60 per cent of waste away from landfills as part of its diversion strategy, which includes converting waste to water to energy, biogas and other sustainable alternatives by 2022, and 80 per cent by 2040. Currently, 100 per cent goes directly to landfills.

In the longer term, Oman is pursuing a range of approaches to waste processing. Studies are being carried out for a number of programmes, including waste-toenergy and biogas projects.

In terms of recycling, a two-bin recycling system will be implemented nationwide following the completion of the deployment of operations and the formal handover of MSW services from the public sector to Be’ah, which is expected to be completed in the next few years.

One of the success stories of the waste management policy has been in the healthcare sector, which now processes approximately 100 per cent of healthcare waste at three facilities in Muscat, Dhofar and Al Batinah North. The remainder will likely be completed once a small additional facility is constructed in Musandam.

Waste is also being envisaged as a solution to Oman’s rising water demands. Be’ah has completed feasibility studies for a waste-toenergy-to-water programme, for which it is expecting the authorities to float a tender in 2018 and begin operations by 2021. strategic