Waste-to-energy plant at Brahampuram mooted again, tenders notified for transaction advisor

Hardly a year after the state government scrapped waste-to-energy projects in four cities, including Kochi, the Suchitwa Mission has kicked off steps to establish a new plant at Brahmapuram. The mission has notified tenders for the selection of a transaction advisor for the proposed WTE plant in Brahmapuram. 

In January 2025, the local self-government department (LSGD) cancelled plans for WTE plants in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Kollam. The order issued by the local self-government department noted that out of seven proposed projects, financial closure was achieved, and the project was initiated only in Palakkad.

It was cited that the project was dropped in Brahmapuram in Kochi since the concessionaire agreement could not be signed to date, and BPCL was undertaking the construction of a CBG (compressed biogas) plant. As per the tender document, the Government plans to establish a WTE plant at Brahmapuram for processing the non-recyclable combustible fraction of solid waste to recover energy.

In Kerala, the present population generates approximately 10,000 TPD of waste, of which around 25 per cent is non-biodegradable. After segregation, recyclable materials are sent to authorised recycling units, while the non-recyclable combustible fraction is directed to co-processing facilities, such as cement plants, for energy recovery. 

According to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, non-recyclable combustible waste with a calorific value of 1,500 kcal/kg or above must be utilised for energy recovery. As Kerala currently has no cement plants equipped for co-processing, this waste fraction is transported to cement factories in other states, the document notes. The WTE at Brahmapuram has been proposed to address this concern.

The Transaction Advisor (TA) will be selected from the empanelled list published by MoHUA (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs). The selected 

TA will be responsible for providing expert guidance and support to the appointing authority until financial closure, from conceptualisation to financial closure and ensuring the successful development of the plant till its commencement of construction after achieving financial closure.

In 2020, the government had decided to cancel the pact with the GJ Eco Power Private Limited for establishing a WTE at Brahmapuram, citing that the company could not demonstrate financial capability to raise funds for the project.