A Chinese company is working on a project to generate electricity from waste at the Aminbazar landfill in Dhaka. Once operational, the project will generate 42 megawatts of electricity from waste and supply it to the national grid. The target is to connect the electricity to the grid within the next 18 months, with the government set to purchase it at Tk 25 per unit.

The information was disclosed by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Thursday (August 27), following a courtesy meeting between Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moin Khan and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the Secretariat.

The state minister said China would supply 42 megawatts of electricity to the national grid within the next one and a half years. The electricity will be generated from waste and then supplied to the grid.

He said the formal tripartite agreement for the project is scheduled to be signed in Beijing, China, on September 2. An agreement has already been reached among the parties concerned regarding the project. The final financing agreement will be signed between the investor bank, the company and the relevant Bangladeshi parties.

Explaining the Tk 25-per-unit purchase price, Mir Shahe Alam said, “The cost will be slightly higher, but our benefit lies elsewhere. We will purchase electricity from them at Tk 25 per unit. At first glance, this may seem quite expensive. But our benefit is in another area. They will eliminate our waste, and organic fertilizer will be produced from the remaining waste. They will use the landfill and pay the city corporation a monthly rent for it, while the Bangladesh government will not have to make any investment in the site.

“Waste is a major burden for our nation and for Dhaka city. If they generate electricity from this waste and provide it to us, the price may seem high, but considering the environmental benefits, that cost will return to us in other ways.”

Mir Shahe Alam also said China is interested in developing the economic zone in Chattogram and Mongla Port. Discussions have also taken place on improving connectivity between Chattogram Port and Mongla Port alongside the development of Mongla Port.

The state minister said PowerChina, a Chinese company, has been in contact with Bangladesh. He said the Chinese side had been requested to encourage PowerChina to quickly generate electricity from waste at the Dhaka South City Corporation landfill and supply it to the national grid.

According to Mir Shahe Alam, 40 to 50 megawatts of electricity could also be generated daily from the waste at the Dhaka South City Corporation landfill.