Page 4 - Logistics News June 2018

Thought Leadership

Hong Kong reclaims

the sea to reclaim its waste

By Ben Messenger, courtesy Waste Management World

With Phase III of the huge Baoan waste to energy facility in Shenzhen, China scheduled for
completion later this year, the technology fi rm behind the project, Keppel Seghers Belgium
N.V., has now secured another equally impressive project, this time in Hong Kong.

WHILE THE Hong Kong Integrated
Waste Management Facility’s ‘lowly’
3,000-ton-per-day capacity may be
dwarfed by the Baoan project’s near
9,000 tons, located as it will be on a
man-made island off the Shek Kwu
Chau coast, the facility impresses for
diff erent reasons.
Working with its Chinese partner,
Zhen Hua Engineering Co. Ltd, Keppel
Seghers Hong Kong Limited recently
secured the HKD31 billion ($4 billion)
contract with the Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) of the
Government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region to design,
build and operate Hong Kong’s fi rst
Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF). Expected to be completed in 2024, the IWMF
According to the EPD, a comprehensive comprises a waste to energy (WTE) plant, a
site selection exercise that aimed to determine mechanical treatment plant and ancillary facilities,
potential sites was completed in January 2008. which include an administration building, visitor
In November the same year, the government centre and port handling facilities, as well as
commenced detailed Engineering Investigation desalination and wastewater treatment plants.
and Environmental Impact Assessment Studies The WTE plant will feature Keppel Seghers’
(EI&EIA Studies) for two potential sites to ascertain technology with its air-cooled grate, boiler design
their overall suitability. Completed in 2012, the EIA and combustion control system. In addition,
for Phase 1 was approved. Taking into account the plant will also use Keppel Seghers’ fl ue gas
the report results and Hong Kong’s overall waste cleaning system, ensuring that the emissions
management strategy, the government identifi ed comply with Hong Kong and EU standards.
the artifi cial island near Shek Kwu Chau as the The IWMF will also feature a 200-ton-per-
preferred site. day mechanical treatment plant for sorting
In addition to its recommendation to use moving and recycling of glass, plastics and metals. The
grate technology, the Advisory Committee on the separated materials will be transported back
Environment (ACE) also supported a sorting and to Hong Kong for further processing into end
recycling plant with a treatment capacity of 200 products. The on-site desalination plant will supply
tons per day to test the operational viability and process water for the IWMF and the wastewater
cost-eff ectiveness of recovering the recyclables treatment plant will ensure that all effl uents are
from the MSW prior to incineration. treated and reused as process water in either the
WTE or the mechanical treatment plant or for
Technology general washing and landscape irrigation within
Currently, Hong Kong landfi lls its non-recycled the IWMF.
waste. According to Keppel, with space at a Keppel says that the facility will also undergo
premium, the facility constitutes a key part of Hong an extensive greening process to integrate it with
Kong’s waste management strategy. It is able to its natural surroundings. It will also feature a visitor
reduce the total volume of waste treated at the gallery for environmental education and to raise
facility by more than 90 percent, thus extending the awareness about waste management as part of
lifespan of the landfi ll sites. Hong Kong’s green drive. •

4 June 2018 | Logistics News