KOCHI: The waste-to-energy (WTE) solid waste treatment plant proposed at Brahmapuram got a shot in the arm, with V-Guard Group chairman Kochouseph Chittilappilly offering to invest Rs 10 crore in the Rs 375-crore project. Earlier in the year, a deal was signed between the Kochi Corporation and GJ Eco Power Pvt Ltd, the implementing agency, for setting up the plant. “If we get all the 21 approvals required for the project through the single window system, we would be able to start operations by December 2018 - before Christmas. The project is expected to create over 100 skilled jobs,” said GJ Eco Power managing director Giby George at a press conference here on Monday.
Meanwhile, a meeting of around 25 potential private investors and 12 banks was held in Kochi on Monday to mobilise fund for the project. The project envisages to convert 300 tonnes of municipal waste into 10 MW of electricity every day, through gasification process. The company was allotted 20 acres of land on lease at Brahmapuram, at Rs 1.25 crore for 20 years. “We have invested Rs 6 crore and over four years on the project. The company will be putting in another Rs 8 crore. With the funding support from Chittilappilly, we are confident to get moving. If everything goes as planned, we expect to receive return on investment in seven-and-half years,” said Giby, adding that the KSEB would purchase the electricity generated at the plant, under a power-purchase agreement, at Rs 15 per unit.
Chittilappilly said the city required the project. “We use the advanced environment-friendly process called bio-drying for drying waste. After drying, waste will be segregated into recoverable items,” said GJ Eco Power technical director Steve John. The firm’s technical partner is UK-based Biomass Power Limited. GJ Eco Power was awarded the Brahmapuram waste-to-energy project through international bidding in February 2016.
Uproar in Corp Council
Kochi: Opposition councillors registered their protest at the Corporation council meet on Monday, against the agreement between GJ Eco Power Pvt Ltd and businessman Kochouseph Chittilappilly for the proposed waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram. Opposition Councillor V P Chandran said the council should discuss the stance taken by GJ Eco Power to seek financial support from banks and the business fraternity. “We want to know whether the company had sought permission from the Mayor before entering into contract with the businessman,” said Chandran.
“The cost of the project estimated by the Electricity Regulatory Authority is J174 crore, while the estimate given by the company to the Corporation is J295 crore. Meanwhile, the company at a press briefing said the project cost would be J375 crore, indicating lack of clarity. Initially, the company had said the capacity of the plant would be J300 tonne of waste per day. But it now says the capacity would be J500 tonne. “The Mayor should clarify whether the company had intimidated the Corporation about the financial support from Chittilappilly,” added Chandran. Deputy Mayor T J Vinodh in his reply said there was nothing wrong in the company raising funds from external entities for the project as the contract had already been signed. Echoing Vinodh’s stance, the Mayor said the Corporation would not incur any additional expense due to the deal, and that a meeting of the company officials and he councillors would be convened soon to discuss the matter.