RAK to have Dh700m power station

The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah will have a huge power station, worth Dh500-700 million, that will produce electric energy by treating recycled wastes, said a senior official here. 
As per a study the department conducted in collaboration with the waste management authority in the emirate, up to 40 per cent of the food served to hotel guests are dumped, he added. "Up to 60 per cent of the food is dumped in Ramadan, though." 
The department is all set to use advanced and environment-friendly technologies to handle the increasing amounts of wastes being dumped on a daily basis across the emirate due to the growing population and urban expansion, he underlined.
"Large amounts of wastes are not categorized and are got rid of in a random way, posing a grave risk to people's health."
Sonia Nasser, director of the waste management authority in Ras Al Khaimah, said they have started collecting and recycling food wastes and recyclable stuff from the restaurants and hotels of the emirate.
"Up to 70 tons of diverse wastes, including foods, plastic bottles, metal and paper items, are being collected from these outlets on a monthly basis in comparison to 20 tons monthly last year."
The glass wastes being collected are referred to a specialised factory in Jebel Ali in Dubai for remanufacturing and resale in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Nasser revealed. 
"We have started the second phase of the project whereby the fish and vegetables markets wastes are being sorted out and recycled for producing electric energy and bio-fertilizers." 
"The new waste recycling station is being founded in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain," he said. "The waste materials in both emirates will be first collected, then sorted out, and recycled for producing biofuel."
The organic fertilizers and other materials needed for powering cement factories will also be produced, he disclosed. "The total capacity of the UAQ station is expected to hit 1,000 to 1,500 tons every day." 
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah