India: The Punjab government has approved a 40MW generation project using solid waste as fuel. The project will be set up by Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) and US-based Eco Air will prepare a feasibility study and provide technical assistance, according to Pakistan Engineering Review.

LWMC manager LWMC Wasif Azhar said that the project would help Lahore to dispose of solid waste in a useful way and provide cheap electricity. He hoped that the initiative would attract more investments. The project contract will be awarded on a build, operate and transfer basis.

The project will be set up at a landfill site near Lakho Der, along the River Ravi, to be provided to the investor free of cost. LWMC has signed agreements with DG Khan Cement and Lahore Compost to supply 1000t/day of solid waste for recycling. The companies will segregate the waste into two major components: Burnable and organic. The burnable component will be used as fuel in industrial units, while the organic material will be separated for bio-fertilisers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers.