Waste to Wealth: Lucknow's ₹450 Cr Plant

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation is moving forward with the development of a waste-to-energy (WtE) plant in Shivri, aimed at improving municipal solid waste management and generating electricity from Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). The plant will process RDF composed of non-recyclable plastics, paper, cardboard, and other combustible inorganic materials collected from Lucknow and surrounding municipalities.

By processing RDF locally, the project will significantly reduce the cost and environmental impact of transporting waste nearly 500 km to cement factories. The proposed ₹450 crore facility will feature a 15 MW power plant, capable of utilizing 1,000–1,200 tonnes of RDF per day—roughly the volume produced daily in the city.

The project is being implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model using a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) framework. Funding will be shared among a private partner (50%), the state/local government (25%), and the central government (25%) through Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

Additional Municipal Commissioner Arvind Rao emphasized the dual benefits of waste management and clean energy generation. Mayor Sushma Kharakwal noted that the initiative aligns with the city’s sustainability and energy goals. The plant, to be developed over 20–25 acres, is expected to be completed within two years and will require approximately three million litres of water daily for operations.

Equipped with advanced emission control systems, the plant also plans to repurpose residual ash for construction materials, further contributing to a circular economy approach.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.