Sembcorp building EfW plant in Singapore

Sembcorp, an international energy, water and marine group, has broken ground on what will be its largest energy-from-waste (EfW) facility in Singapore.

Costing over $250 million (€182 million), the plant will handle industrial and commercial waste to produce steam for supply to companies on Jurong Island. Sembcorp said in a statement the development is a step towards reducing the carbon footprint of the island's petrochemical hub.

Located in the Sakra region, the project will offer an economical and environmentally friendly source of steam to serve the needs of companies in the vicinity. It will be equipped with two boilers with a combined capacity of 140 tonnes of steam per hour and is expected to be completed in early 2016.

Compared to a coal-fired steam plant, it will produce around 50% less greenhouse gas emissions. Upon completion of the plant, Sembcorp will be able to supply a third of its customers' steam needs in Singapore using renewable alternative fuel.

The facility will be designed to handle around 1,000 tonnes of industrial and commercial waste daily, meaning it will not only convert waste into energy but also reduce Sembcorp's disposal costs for waste it collects.

Ng Meng Poh, Sembcorp executive VP, says: 'The facility will produce a reliable, economical supply of steam to serve our customers' needs, while helping them to reduce their carbon footprint. At the same time, this project will reduce disposal costs for our solid waste management operations and improve synergies between our energy and solid waste management businesses.'