British High Commissioner to Jamaica Asif Ahmad says a British company has expressed interest in a waste management partnership with the Jamaican Government which would feature a waste-to-energy project.
Ahmad made the disclosure during a visit to Montego Bay, St James, last Thursday.
Part of the proposal is to establish waste-to-energy systems in three parishes, including St James and Kingston.
Ahmad explained that funding for the proposed project would be provided jointly by the British company and the Jamaican Government, which would be required to contribute “whatever it is currently spending on solid waste collection and disposal”.
“What they are saying to the Jamaican Government is, if you spend with us what you currently spend on waste collection and disposal, that’s all we will ask of you as a government,” stated Ahmad. “The rest of the project will be funded by money that’s already being organised overseas and the payback will be the generation of electricity from waste, and this is proven technology.”
Additionally, he said, there are other benefits, such as the separation of things that are reusable.
“So, if other people have other plans to make road surfaces or other things, that material will be available. Aggregates which can be used in construction will also be taken out. But most importantly, the commitment this company is ready to make is that the sites that are now polluted will be decontaminated and put back into public use as amenity.
“So, a place like Riverton where you would run away from, would actually become a place where you go and spend leisure time, because the space will no longer be needed for that activity,” Ahmad argued.
The high commissioner added, “They will also work with the community, because a lot of people have squatted and make a living out of scavenging, so they will invest in how they are integrated.”
Ahmad noted that the proposed project would be part of the answer to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ commitment to use at least 30 per cent of renewable sources to generate electricity by 2030.
