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Emirates RDF
Project overview
In the Northern Emirates, household waste traditionally ended up in landfill sites, while industrial sectors relied heavily on fossil fuels. To address both environmental and energy challenges, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and Emirates RDF launched a pioneering PPP to introduce large‑scale waste‑to‑fuel technology. BESIX, together with Tech Group Eco Single Owner, developed and helps manage the region’s first RDF plant, designed to process waste from 550,000 residents of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. By turning municipal waste into alternative fuel for local cement kilns, the project directly supports the UAE’s long‑term sustainability ambitions and reduces reliance on gas and coal.
Scope of works
The Emirates RDF facility processes up to 1,000 tonnes of household waste per day through shredding, sorting and drying stages to produce high‑quality RDF. The system is engineered to divert up to 90% of municipal waste from landfill, providing a circular solution that recovers value from solid waste. BESIX and its partners are responsible for the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of the plant under a BOT contract. The resulting fuel enables cement manufacturers to cut fossil fuel consumption, while the Emirate benefits from improved waste management, reduced environmental impact, and the development of a strategic local resource.
Key highlights
First Refuse‑Derived Fuel facility of its kind in the GCC
Daily processing capacity of 1,000 t/day (up to 1,200 t/day peak)
Produces around 800 tonnes of RDF per day
Significant landfill diversion potential
Supports reduction of gas and coal consumption in cement kilns
Finnish state‑of‑the‑art technology integrated into operations
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