Date: December 17, 2012
Source: Plasco Energy Group Inc.
Plasco Energy said it will build its long-planned 150,000 ton-per-year advanced waste-to-energy plant in Ottawa, Ontario, now that the city has formally signed agreements with the company. The city has committed to supply the plant with 109,500 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) per year with a right of first refusal to supply the balance of the plant's capacity under a 20-year contract that gives the city four optional 5-year extensions. The city will initially pay a tipping fee of $83.25 per ton that will escalate annually in line with the Consumer Price Index. And, while the contract is worth at least $183 million over the next 20 years, the city says it expects to save $250 million by avoiding the use of its landfill. Plasco's energy conversion system employs plasma technology to convert waste into synthetic gas that can be burned cleanly to power internal combustion engines, together with a steam turbine driven by heat recovered from the process and engines, to produce about 15 megawattsof net electricity.
See also: "Plasco Expects to Sign Waste-to-Energy Contract with Ottawa this Month," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20120322N.htm), March 13, 2012.
See also: "Plasco Negotiates Waste-to-energy Contract with Ottawa; Wins Approval for Plant," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20111101H.htm), October 26, 2011.
See also: "Soros Fund Invests $140 Million in Plasco Energy," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20110322A.htm), March 22, 2011.
PRESS RELEASE
December 17, 2012
Plasco to build 150,000 tonnes per year Waste Conversion Facility in Ottawa
Plasco Energy Group Inc. (Plasco or the company) today announced that it will build a 150,000 tonnes per year Waste Conversion Facility in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The announcement comes after the City of Ottawa announced on December 14th signing agreements with Plasco.
The Facility will be built to the Plasco Conversion System (PCS™) design and will incorporate three proprietary Integrated Converting and Refining System (ICARS™) modules. Effective throughput of the facility will be 130,000 tonnes per year. Under the contract announced by Ottawa, the City will supply 109,500 tonnes per year of Ottawa's municipal solid waste and has a right of first refusal to supply the balance of plant capacity. The first 20 years are firm with four 5 year extensions at the option of the City. Construction is expected to commence in the second half of 2013 with commercial operation planned for the first half of 2015.
The City has leased to Plasco for nominal cost the site for the facility and will pay a tipping fee for each tonne processed of $83.25 per tonne, escalating annually at the rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index. Ottawa makes no other financial contribution and will have no other risk or obligation.
The City estimates that the deal will extend the life of Ottawa's existing landfill by at least 28 years saving the City approximately $250 million in future landfill capital costs.
The PCS breaks down garbage using Plasco's patented ICARS system, which gasifies the waste and refines the resulting gas using plasma technology. Clean, synthetic gas created from the waste fuels General Electric Jenbacher internal combustion engines, together with a steam turbine driven by heat recovered from the process and engines, to produce approximately 15MW of net electricity that will be sold to the grid. Residual solids are refined using Plasma to produce slag which meets requirements for a range of applications, including construction aggregates and abrasives. Moisture in the waste is recovered, cleaned and made available for reuse in the community.
There are no emissions to atmosphere in the conversion process. The synthetic gas is consumed as fuel by the engines with any unused gas sent to a flare. Exhaust from the engines and flare have emission levels significantly below the most stringent standards in the world.
The ICARS modules will be manufactured in Ontario and site construction and assembly of the PCS will create about 200 construction jobs. The facility will permanently employ 42 operations technicians.
Construction and operation of the Facility will be subject to receipt of and compliance with the terms of Environmental Compliance Certificates to be issued by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
About Plasco Energy Group Inc.
Plasco Energy Group Inc. is an innovative technology company based in Ottawa, Canada. Plasco's conversion technology is a sustainable solution that helps communities achieve their landfill diversion and renewable energy goals. Plasco recovers the highest value from post-recycled waste and significantly reduces the negative impact waste has on the environment.
For further information, contact:
Plasco Energy Group
Sharilyn McNaughton (613) 762-8402
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