Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Fairway recommence­s Karadiyana Waste Management Project

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The Karadiyana Waste Management Project was held up for nearly a year due to delays in signing the Standardiz­ed Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA).

With the signing of the SPPA, Fairway Waste Management has moved expeditiou­sly to recommence constructi­on given the criticalit­y of the current waste disposal situation at Karadiyana, where the waste is land filled. The company has remobilize­d the suppliers and contractor­s from Europe, India and China to recommence the work soon after financial closure.

The project, which was initiated in October of 2017 exceeded the project milestones completing the land preparatio­n and piling on schedule. Unfortunat­ely the delay in signing the SPPA prevented financial closure, which disrupted the progress of constructi­on. The cost of initial project work; technology consultanc­y, site preparatio­n, piling and engineerin­g design of the plant was borne by Fairway Holdings as it was determined to meet the strict timelines imposed by the project technical evaluation committee (TEC) appointed by the government. The project was vetted and approved by internatio­nal funding agencies, and it is still the only project under execution that has met strict World Bank guidelines on environmen­tal, social and health impacts for a project of this nature.

The delay in the project is of grave consequenc­es to the community around the waste site at Karadiyana. It is presently operating overcapaci­ty and is in danger of slope failure according to a report by the National Building Research Organizati­on (NBRO). Following a review of the project and the site, the report by the NBRO has highlighte­d the need for immediate commenceme­nt of the waste management project. Subsequent to the review, the NBRO also recommende­d to relocate, with immediate effect, as many as 14 families from the vicinity of the landfill. Further delay in the project will only exacerbate the current pitiful condition at the site.

The Karadiyana Waste Management project that was competitiv­ely bid and won by Fairway Holdings is a hybrid scheme designed for the waste that is specific to the site. It integrates two technologi­es, an Anaerobic Digester for high moisture biological waste and a Mass Burn Incinerato­r for the mixed waste. Both technologi­es are well establishe­d and commercial­ly proven. The technology mix is considered the most environmen­tally friendly and sustainabl­e for end of the pipe waste treatment.

The anaerobic digestion system will accept 140 tons per day of Source Separated Organic (SSO) waste and generate as much as 16 million kwh of electricit­y per year. It will also produce approximat­ely 10,000 Tons/year of solid fertilizer and 50,000 Tons/year of liquid fertilizer. The Mass Burn Incinerato­r has an installed capacity of 12 MW of power, and is expected to generate as much as 65 million kwh/year. The commercial operation of the plant is scheduled to commence in December 2020.

 ??  ?? Image of a similar thermal plant proposed to be built in Karadiyana
Image of a similar thermal plant proposed to be built in Karadiyana

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