Waste-to-energy disposal
system being considered
for St. Maarten
PHILIPSBURG--A waste-to-energy incineration plant is being considered for the island with the electricity produced from the plant to be channelled to a utilities company; either GEBE or EDF, depending on where the plant is situated.
The suggestion is outlined in the Waste Management Feasibility Report being compiled by TNO/Royal Haskoning that should be completed in August and submitted to both sides of the island, Commissioner Roy Marlin said at Wednesday’s Executive Council Press Briefing.
“We are looking at a waste-to-energy plant whereby the energy produced from the incineration of garbage will be turned into electricity and then supplied to one of the local electricity companies,” he added. It is estimated that about 10 megawatts of electricity can be produced daily with the amount of garbage produced daily on island.
The contracted company has to make a suggestion, as a part of the report, as to on which side of the island the plant should be located. It has not formulated this suggestion as yet, according to Marlin. “No decision has been taken yet. We have to look at the pros and the cons of the Dutch side versus the French side, logistics in terms of transportation, movement of garbage, the time trucks will take to move from the French side to the Dutch side.”
After the report is completed, the governments of both sides of the island will have to approve it and place it up for financing bids to see what organisations and financial institutions are willing to fund and operate the project, the commissioner added.
Marlin was in Paris recently with Projects Bureau Head Louis Brown, Head of Maintenance Claudius Buncamper and representatives of the French side to peruse the draft report.
The delegation visited two waste-to-energy plants during the trip. “The plants are located almost in the middle of the city, but you don’t realise that they are waste-to-energy plants because they have very clean operations. I believe that if we can get something like this going in St. Maarten with all the garbage we produce on the island, it would be a plus for the island.”
The venture to establish a waste-to-energy plant has to be looked at carefully, as it is very costly, he stated. “The project should cost between 50 and 60 million euros. We will have to see how we can combine it with grants from the European Union, private capital, a guarantee that the electricity company can purchase a certain amount of megawatts. These discussions will have to take place in the future for us to be able to finalise this project.”
St Maarten Apartment for vacation rental
