GCC's waste-to-energy market to sustain 25 per cent growth amidst region's intensified zero waste & recycling efforts

Dubai, UAE, January 26, 2015 – The GCC’s waste-to-energy (WTE) market will sustain the 20 to 25 per cent growth rate attained over the past three years in light of the region’s intensified efforts to adopt more sustainable, long-term waste management and recycling solutions.

With 80 million tonnes of waste generated per year, the GCC countries produce a higher amount of waste per capita than any other region in the world. It is against this backdrop that WTE has now become an important mode of waste management and landfill waste reduction as well as an essential source of power.

According to a Frost and Sullivan report, the regional WTE projects that are now in the pipeline will produce between 300 and 500 megawatts of power by 2020 - approximately 10 times more than the current WTE production estimates. This will economically and environmentally benefit the entire region. 

The flourishing WTE sector in GCC is opening up significant opportunities for industry players. The market’s immense potential, along with solutions to challenges, is set to be featured at the 2015 edition of the Middle East Waste and Recycling show happening simultaneously with the FM EXPO at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 18 to 20 May 2015.

Jaafar Shubber, Senior Project Manager, Middle East Waste and Recycling, said: “The attendees at the Middle East Waste and Recycling exhibition will have a chance to analyse the latest technologies and industry trends, and from there make informed decisions that will help the entire sector to move forward. They can also expect important learning and networking opportunities that will surely help in their respective businesses and endeavours.”

Imdaad, a leading provider of integrated facilities management solutions in the GCC will be one of the exhibitors at the event, showcasing its diverse range of sustainable FM solutions.

Mahmood Rasheed, COO, Imdaad, said: “One of our ‘green’ programs is the use of biofuel in six of our garbage collection trucks, which forms part of our carbon footprint reduction campaign. We are proud to say that Imdaad is the only FM Company in the UAE that uses biofuel in its waste collection vehicles. We also made heavy investments in environment-friendly technologies to promote recycling and reusing of raw materials.”

Dipankar Ghosh, Partner, Regional Leader, Clean Energy & Sustainability Services, Middle East & North Africa, Ernst & Young, said: “In recent years we have seen leading jurisdictions develop regulations, tipping fees and tariffs to increase quantities of recyclable and recoverable material.  This will most certainly lead to more quality, high calorific value material on the market for treatment facility investors, thus driving market growth in the Waste to Energy field.”

In 2014, over 7,500 visitors attended the Middle East Waste and Recycling trade fair, including waste managers, facilities managers, sustainability managers and recycling managers. For 2015, more than 150 exhibitors are expected to showcase their latest products, services and solutions.