The Chinese-owned Mizuda Waste Management Co Ltd has completed its feasibility study concerning its planned construction of a waste-generated power plant in Siem Reap province.

Zhang Xiaozhong, a company representative, presented a research report on the project at a meeting with provincial governor Tea Seiha on Tuesday.

Zhang said the plant needs about 210,000 tonnes of waste per year to produce 12MW of electricity, which is equivalent to about 10 per cent of the province’s total demand.

The company estimates that the province will produce 600 tonnes of waste per day by 2022 and 1,000 tonnes per day by 2035.

Zheng said: “Both sides have recognised the technical and operational benefits of the waste-burning plant, which provides quality environmental cleaning and also electricity.”

Seiha expressed his full support for the waste-to-energy project because it will protect Siem Reap town’s environment.

He said provincial authorities will study garbage collection and electricity pricing as well as set up factory construction sites.

General Department of Energy director-general Victor Jona, told the Post in March that despite waste-to-energy plants carrying high production costs, the government is still pushing for investment in the project, as the country will face a lack of rubbish dumps in the future.

Jona said: “In the past, many companies have studied the possibility of investing in waste-to-energy projects, but they were abandoned due to high production costs compared to other energy sources. This makes it difficult for the state to buy and integrate [electricity] into the national grid network.”

Disposal of solid waste in cities and districts in the Siem Reap province currently produce 600 tonnes of solid waste per day, with Siem Reap town responsible for 380 tonnes per day.

Siem Reap town presently has three garbage collection companies – GAEA Plc, VGreen and Active Green Co Ltd.