Singapore environment agency taps Hyflux consortium for new WTE plant

The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore has selected a consortium comprising Hyflux Ltd. and partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. as the preferred bidder for the construction of a new waste-to-energy plant in Tuas, Singapore.

NEA reports that Hyflux and MHI will form a concession company to enter into a design-build-operate agreement with NEA for a WTE facility to provide 3,600 metric tons per day of incineration capacity and generate 120 megawatts of renewable electricity.

According to Hyflux, the new WTE plant, which will be the sixth such plant in Singapore, will provide waste treatment services exclusively to NEA for 25 years, beginning in 2019. The project is valued at an estimated S$750 million (US $534 million) and is expected to be completed in 2019. Hyflux and MHI will hold 75 percent and 25 percent of the shares in the project company, respectively, Hyflux reports. Hyflux will handle engineering, procurement and construction, which MHI will provide the technology. The two companies will jointly manage, operate and maintain the plant over the concession period, Hyflux says.

NEA says the new WTE plant, situated on a 4.8-hectare site, will be Singapore’s most land-efficient plant. The electricity produced will be used to power the plant, with the excess distributed to help supply Singapore’s needs.
According the Hyflux, the plant will be located next to the Tuaspring Integrated Water and Power Project, with a combined-cycle gas turbine power plant that was also developed by Hyflux.

“The new waste-to-energy plant is part of NEA’s long-term plan to meet Singapore’s future waste management needs. With the scarcity of land in Singapore, the constant challenge is to find the most efficient solutions. This plant will be developed to optimize land use, achieve greater environmental sustainability and further provide for Singapore’s waste management needs,” says NEA CEO Ronnie Tay.

Olivia Lum, executive chairman and group CEO of Hyflux, comments, “This win is significant because it is our first WTE project and demonstrates our ability to put together a solution that both Singapore and NEA can be proud of. The plant sets new benchmarks for land utilization and energy recovery efficiency for Singapore.”