Phuket addresses waste issue with new incinerator construction

Phuket City Municipality recently convened its inaugural public assembly to deliberate on the construction of a new incinerator at the Saphan Hin solid waste disposal site.

The proposed initiative entails collaboration with EA Waste Management Phuket Co Ltd, a private entity, tasked with the development and operation of the facility. Encompassing an area of nearly 15 rai (24,000 square meters), the new site is anticipated to accommodate a minimum daily capacity of 500 tonnes of solid waste, alongside generating 9.9 megawatts of electrical power.

Orapailin Trakulpriphon, Deputy Mayor of Phuket, emphasized the pressing issue of mounting garbage within the city, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive, multi-sectoral management. This gathering serves to solicit public feedback, recognized as pivotal in fostering effective waste management strategies in Phuket.

This public consultation follows last year’s announcement of Energy Absolute Public Company Limited (EA) securing the bid for constructing the new incinerator, pending approval from the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). In September, Saroj Angkanapilas, Mayor of Phuket Town, and Wasu Klomkliang, EA’s Executive Vice President, convened in Phuket to formalize the government contract signing.

According to EA, the new incinerator is slated for operational commencement by 2026. Under a build-operate-transfer agreement, EA will oversee facility management for 20 years before transferring ownership to Phuket City Municipality.

The incinerator is designed to process a minimum of 500 tonnes of waste daily while generating 9.9MW of electricity, to be sold to the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). PEA will procure 8MW of electricity at 5.84 baht per unit for the initial eight years and 5.14 baht per unit thereafter.

This incinerator project forms part of six initiatives outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked on February 18 this year between EA and the Federation of Thai Industries Phuket (FTI Phuket). Aligned with the “Phuket as a Green Island; Low Carbon City” initiative, this collaboration aims to promote sustainable tourism and industry growth in Phuket.

The overdue implementation of the new incinerator project underscores the island’s struggle to manage its daily waste output. Phuket has grappled with waste disposal challenges for nearly a decade. Despite the existing two incinerators capable of processing up to 700 tonnes per day, the influx of solid waste during peak tourism seasons reaches approximately 1,000 tonnes daily.

The forthcoming incinerator, spearheaded by EA, marks the third facility at Saphan Hin, poised to aid authorities in gradually mitigating landfill overflow, as reported by Phuket News. Chantima, Chief of Phuket City Solid Waste Management at the plant, underscores the shared responsibility of residents in addressing Phuket’s waste management crisis.