PTTEP Myanmar Asset Helps Kanbauk Residents Transform Trash to Treasure with the launch of its Waste-to-Energy CSR Program
4 Feb 2020
Yangon, Myanmar, 20 January 2020 – PTTEP Myanmar Asset announced the launch of its first Waste-to-Energy CSR program in Myanmar today. Under the program, PTTEP Myanmar Asset will install 31 biogas generators across Kanbauk area this month to improve residents’ quality of life by converting organic waste into biogas fuel[1] and liquid fertilizer that can be used for cooking and farming.
With each generator capable of processing 4.5 cubic meter of waste into biogas that can be continually used for about 2-3 daily, the Waste-to-Energy program is expected to improve waste management while reducing household expenditure for cooking gas, charcoal and woods. Moreover, it produces organic liquid fertilizer which can be used by farmers to improve their crop yield.
“Sustainable development is at the core of our business. The Waste-to-Energy Program is a great initiative that demonstrates our commitment to not only business growth, but also social development and environmental stewardship,” commented Mr. Piya Sukhumpanumet, General Manager of PTTEP Myanmar Asset.
“PTTEP’s existing CSR biogas projects in Thailand at Sinphuhorm and Suphanburi have proven effective in handling waste and improving access to energy; and we are very excited to replicate the success in Kanbauk by transferring our learnings and technology to Myanmar today,” he added.
The program’s launch was the result of a feasibility study which included a study trip to PTTEP’s existing biogas project at Suphanburi in Thailand, as well as a trip by PTTEP’s in-house expert to assess local requirements and train its staff at Kanbauk. A pilot project was also conducted in October 2018 at Bawdi Mhan Aung Monastery in Kanbauk, where a biogas generator was installed as a trial.
PTTEP Myanmar Asset also actively engaged local residents and villagers as part of the project to understand their needs and concerns towards waste management and energy generation. Local residents and leaders were introduced to the waste-to-energy approach and have since show their support for the project.
“Since the installation of the biogas generator at the monastery, we have been able to save about 10,000 Kyat a month on cooking fuel and use that money for other religious rituals activities instead. It is great that we can create something useful out of our daily waste, while reducing the amount of trash in our area.” Sayardaw U Nyanissara, Head Monk of BAWDI MHAN AUNG MONASTERY said.
Biogas is a type of clean energy produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste or food waste.
