Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday expressed his willingness to utilize solid waste for generation of electricity to resolve the energy crises in the metropolis. Chairing a meeting over the issue at the CM house, Murad pointed out that 16,550 tons of waste is generated daily in the city out of which only 20 percent is recycled. He said he wants to utilize the waste for generation of electricity.
Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani, Minister for Women Development Shehla Raza, CM's adviser on Law Barrister Murtaza Wahab, P&D chairman Mohammad Waseem and Hubco chairman Habibullah Khan, director Aly Khan, CEO Khalid Mansoor and other officials attended the meeting.
On water issues, Murad said, Karachi was receiving 583 MGD from Keenjhar Lake and 100 MGD from Hub Dam. He noted that the supply of 683 MGD water from both sources was meeting 80 percent of the total requirement leaving the city with a shortfall that may be overcome through sea water desalination plant.
Hubco team told the chief minister the issues of water scarcity, waste water and solid waste management could be overcome by making sea water desalination plant, waste water recycling and energy could be generated from solid waste.
It was pointed out that total water demand of Clifton Cantonment Board and DHA Phase 1 to VII was 14 MGD, out of which 6 to 7 MGD is being supplied by KWSB and there is still a gap of 7 to 8 MGD.
The Hubco offered to use Hub plant for desalination. Its capacity would be 300 MGD that could be enhanced to 1200 MGD. They said that sea water intake and outfall channels are available. Waste to Energy: Hubco told the chair that if all of Karachi's non-recycled waste (13,240 TPD) is utilized, it can generate around 200MW electricity which can be used for producing 175-190 MGD of potable water.
The chief minister said that waste-to-energy-to-water projects can be executed under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement with Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) and KWSB. Murad Shah further said that Hubco and Sindh government can work together and for the purpose he directed P&D chairman Mohammad Waseem to firm up the detailed proposal for the purpose. The PPP unit can also work on the project, he said.
Shah also directed the P&D chairman to examine how much waste could be provided per day for generation of electricity and how much land would be required to install such a plant at landfill site. The P&D and Sindh PPP unit have been tasked to make proposal after considering the main idea of providing desalinated water to Karachi, power generation from solid waste and recycling of waste water for industrial purpose and then submit the same to the chief minister for his approval.