Philipsburg:--- During the week from 20 May to May 23, the Ministry of VROMI with responsibility for Environment held meetings with four prospective bidders for the Waste to Energy plant. The bidders were the ones selected for what is considered Invitation II or the Dialogue Phase and were expected to give verbal presentations and request clarifications from the Steering Committee if necessary.
The four companies that were invited are Synergy Renewables, who is proposing a bubbling bed gasification process, Matrix Befesa, who is proposing incineration, Covanta Energy, who is proposing CleerGas Gasification process and Electrawinds / Babcock & Wilcox Volund, who is proposing mass burn incineration process.
The St. Maarten team consisted of Secretary General VROMI, Mr. Louis Brown, Head of Infrastructure Mr. Claudius 'Toontje' Buncamper, Consultants from DMV KEMA Mr. Frans Lamers and Mr. Roel Verlaan, Steering Committee Member Sipke De Haan and Adviser to the Minister Kendall Dupersoy. Also attending the dialogue phase was two GEBE representatives, Mr. Ray Carty Special Projects and Mr. Rudelso Henry Planning Department.
GEBE, through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) will purchase electricity from the eventual winner of the bidding process which will contribute to the financing of the plant. The contractors can also produce other products for the local and overseas market through high tech processes and recycling. There is also the opportunity for additional employment and residual business opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Minister Marlin expects the Kwh cost of the WTE plant to be lower than the current combined GEBE cost of power plus fuel cost. The Minister explained that in essence the general public should see a small reduction in electricity cost if all goes as planned.
All four bidders presented a full explanation of their technology and the financing options. Minister William Marlin's concept with the WTE plant is for the plant to have no financial impact on the people of St. Maarten, unlike in the past when Government was negotiating a solution that would cost the tax payers initially some 120 Million dollars and 20 Million a year to run.
Minister Marlin is happy that soon a project to reduce the eyesore of the landfill, commonly called the dump, will soon be finalized. Just a few days ago we experienced a fire on the landfill and burned all day covering the entire surrounding area with possibly toxic smoke not to mention the smell. With the commission of the WTE plant, all of our waste will be converted to energy in a clean environmentally safe way. After some years, the hill of some 28 meters will be reduced to land viable for residential and commercial use.
Press Release from Ministry of VROMI
