SHAH ALAM, Sept 15 — The Selangor government may relocate the proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Batu Arang, Rawang, following residents’ objections, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
“There is a possibility that we can move it to another Rawang site because there is land that was identified (to handle waste from) Kuala Lumpur that was approved in 2019, but the project has yet to start.
“If the project has not started, then we can relocate it, but we will still take safety and other aspects into consideration,” he said during a town hall held for Malaysia Day at Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Polytechnic here today.
He was responding to questions from Batu Arang residents who cited the project’s potential impact on the community and environment due to its close proximity to residential areas.
The proposed project, spearheaded by KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM), aims to tackle Selangor’s landfill crisis but has faced severe public backlash.
Amirudin said the Batu Arang project is still subject to various technical and environmental considerations, including environmental and social impact assessments, adding that the state must also look into safety, zoning, and appropriate buffer zones before deciding on the project.
“The current 500m buffer is not enough. We need a larger buffer zone,” he said while acknowledging residents’ concerns.
However, he highlighted that WTE plants would reduce dependence on traditional landfills due to their environmental, health and economic impacts.
“Selangor must move away from its heavy reliance on landfills, given that the state produces around 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of waste daily, with the amount exceeding 10,000 tonnes during festive periods,” he added.
Amirudin said the Jeram 1 WTE Plant is already operating, while the Jeram 2 WTE and Tanjung Dua Belas facilities are expected to start running by year-end and in 2029, respectively.
The three plants are expected to be able to process about 5,500 tonnes of waste per day.
