The incinerator being developed on Thilafushi is expected to be completed and begin operations by mid-2028, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef has said.
The Minister made the remarks during the Ahaa forum, jointly organised by the President’s Office and Public Service Media.
Minister Shareef said Thilafushi is the Maldives’ main industrial area, where waste from across the country, including materials that require specialised disposal, is transported for management.
He said work on the incinerator, which had been suspended, was being prepared to resume shortly. The project is expected to provide a major solution to the growing problem of fibreglass waste once completed and operational.
“After being suspended for some time, work will resume very soon. This will provide a major solution to the growing fibreglass waste problem. The plan is to begin operations by mid-2028. Around 40 per cent of the project has been completed so far. Following issues with the previous contractor and the suspension of work, the project is now proceeding with a new contractor,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, work is also progressing on the waste-to-energy plant being developed on Thilafushi, which is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2028.
The plant will have a power generation capacity of 13 megawatts and will be capable of incinerating more than 500 tonnes of waste per day.
According to the Ministry, within two years of the plant becoming operational, it is expected to prevent the release of 40,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The Ministry also said the plant is expected to reduce fuel expenditure for electricity generation by approximately USD 2 million, while supplying 10 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.