Construction of a large garbage power plant, capable of generating 200 million kwh of electricity per year, is expected to start by the end of this year in Guangzhou, capital of southern Guangdong Province.

With an investment of 970 million yuan, the Likeng garbage incineration power plant will be able to incinerate over 2,000 tons of domestic waste per day, almost one fifth of the city's total, according to the Guangzhou-based Guangri Group, developer of the power plant.

The project will adopt the clean garbage power transforming technology of a Danish company to reduce the emission of waste gas, according to the group.
Researchers have found that garbage shrinks 90 percent in volume and 80 percent in weight after being incinerated. Once incinerated, two tons of garbage can produce the same amount of energy as a ton of coal.

In addition, the residue can be used as environmentally friendly paving and construction materials. Garbage power, therefore, like solar and wind power, is a environmentally friendly means of power generation, said experts.

Guangzhou, the country's major economic powerhouse, currently has one garbage power plant, which is able to handle 1,000 tons of garbage per day and generate 130 million kwh of electricity per year.

However, the city produces 11,000 tons of domestic waste per day and the figure is expected to increase to 13,000 by 2010. Most of the garbage are buried in three landfills at the outskirts of Guangzhou, which is of potential harm to the environment. (US$1 equals to 7.72 yuan)  

Editor: Yan