A waste collection company is seeking to turn unwanted refuse into electricity in Phnom Penh, using state-of-the-art technology to contribute to environmental protection. 

The idea was raised by Mizuda Group CEO Shan Jianming during his meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet on January 29 at the Peace Place, according to Manet’s official social media page.

According to the post, Mizuda Sanitation (Cambodia), the sister company of Mizuda Group, has been operating rubbish and waste collection in the capital for the last three years. It has created 710 jobs for locals and actively disseminates waste management knowledge to the public. 

“The CEO informed the prime minister about Mizuda Group’s aim of expanding their investment by producing electricity from waste using the latest technology, which highly contributes to environmental protection in Phnom Penh,” the post said.

Manet spoke highly of Mizuda’s service in the capital, contributing to its beauty in terms of waste management. 

Prime Minister Hun Manet (right) meets with Mizuda president Shan Jianming on January 29. STPM

“For the company’s business expansion, the prime minister directed it to engage in further discussions with relevant ministries and institutions. This is to be done specifically with the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment, under the facilitation of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC),” the post stated. 

Heng Kimhong, head of research and advocacy at the Cambodian Youth Network (CYN) and also an environmental activist, welcomed the company’s intent to produce electricity from trash and encouraged the government to motivate such investment.

He emphasised the need for an impact study to determine whether the project might affect public health or the environment.