Razon’s Prime Infra targets to launch waste-to-fuel project

MANILA, Philippines — Prime Infrastructure Holdings Corp. (Prime Infra) of businessman Enrique Razon Jr. eyes to complete feasibility studies that will launch its waste-to-fuel project in the country within the year.

The waste-to-fuel project under subsidiary WasteFuel Philippines – which is in partnership with US-based WasteFuel Global – is evaluating the feasibility of putting up a biorefinery in Luzon.

The project will convert over one million tons of municipal waste into 30 million gallons of low-carbon synthetic crude oil (syncrude) annually.

Targeted to be operational by 2025, the plant will convert municipal waste into green fuels, including aviation fuel.

“Our project is progressing well and continues through the various phases of feasibility, which we expect to be concluded this year. We are excited to launch this project that will both address the waste crisis and reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector,” Prime Infra president Guillaume Lucci said.

The project’s advancement comes as Prime Infra welcomed the investment of global shipping firm Maersk in WasteFuel Global. Prime Infra is a shareholder and has been part of the WasteFuel company since February.

“Prime Infra is incredibly pleased to have Maersk join WasteFuel Global. Maersk adds to the line-up of impactful shareholders working towards a greener and cleaner future of mobility,” said Lucci, also a member of WasteFuel’s board of directors.

Maersk’s investment in WasteFuel follows the container shipping firm commitment to decarbonize its fleet.

“Collaboration and partnerships are key to scaling the production and distribution of sustainable fuels, and we look forward to doing exactly that with WasteFuel; exploring potential future green solutions not just for our vessels, but also for Maersk aviation and trucking activities,” A.P. Moller-Maersk’s vice president and head of decarbonization Morten Bo Christiansen said.

Maersk’s investment will help WasteFuel develop biorefineries that will  turn waste into low-carbon sustainable fuels.

“We’re proud to have partnered with Maersk to usher in an era of more environmentally conscious sea transport. Our goal is for WasteFuel to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent compared to fossil fuels,” WasteFuel’s co-founder, chairman and CEO Trevor Neilson said.

In the Philippines, WasteFuel said the national capital region alone generates around 10,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day, equivalent to the weight of approximately 17 Airbus A380 planes.

“At WasteFuel Philippines, our goal is to turn waste into a valuable source of clean energy, thus improving waste management processes and reducing carbon emissions from transportation,” Lucci said earlier.

NetJets, a leader in private aviation, has committed to purchase a minimum of 100 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from WasteFuel over the next 10 years.

Utilizing the most effective technologies available, WasteFuel will produce fuels that burn up to 80 percent reduction in carbon compared to fossil-fuel based aviation fuels.

Neilson said the waste-to-fuel project would  help solve the municipal waste problem and minimize methane emissions from landfills.