The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$ 73.39 million concessional loan and grant to the Government of Maldives to develop a waste treatment facility using waste-to-energy (WTE) technology and disposal infrastructure for the Greater Malé region and neighboring outer islands.
Greater Malé and its neighboring 32 outer islands—which host 86 tourist resorts—suffer from severe environmental pollution and deteriorating livability due to inadequate collection and haphazard disposal of solid waste. Over 830 tons per day (TPD) of solid waste are generated in the area and dumped or burned at the 10-hectare dumpsite on Thilafushi island. Established in 1992, this dumpsite has no pollution control measures. The site contaminates the surrounding environment and is a public health and environmental hazard threatening fisheries and tourism.
The project will establish a WTE plant with a capacity of 500 TPD, 2 treatment lines of 250 TPD each, an 8-megawatt electricity surplus energy recovery facility, an air pollution control system, and a landfill for safe disposal of air pollution control residues and non-marketable incineration bottom ash. The WTE treatment process minimizes land requirements for waste disposal and produces renewable energy addressing the critical land and electricity constraints of developing small island countries like the Maldives.
All facilities will adopt disaster- and climate-resilient features to respond to future disasters and climate change threats, such as sea-level rise. The WTE plant will be implemented through a design-build-operate modality with the private sector, with a 15 years operation and maintenance period.
The project will also strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to supervise WTE operations, enhance operation and maintenance cost recovery, and improve public awareness on sustainable waste management practices.
The total cost of the project is US$ 151.13 million. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank plans to provide a US$ 40 million loan as cofinancing. The Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism will provide a $10 million grant to finance expenditures related to WTE design and construction, contingencies, and consulting services for the certification of greenhouse gas emission reduction from the WTE plant. ADB is providing a US$ 500,000 grant for the institutional capacity strengthening of MOE and EPA. The Government of Maldives will contribute US$ 27.74 million to the project.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
