Ahmed Hamed Al Subhi

Ahmed Hamed Al Subhi Chairman of the Board of Directors of be’ah, talks to TBY about the firm having grown rapidly to become a high-capability service provider for national waste management strategies around the Sultanate.

be’ah was established in Oman in 2007. How has the company evolved since then, and what have been the main highlights?

be’ah has completely transformed since its establishment and is today a high-capability service provider for national waste management strategies. Since its establishment in 2007, be’ah began expanding and acquiring additional assets, starting with its first treatment facility in 2012, then launching its MSW services in 2015 and industrial waste landfill operations in 2019 and reaching a 100% MSW coverage in Oman in 2020. Additionally, be’ah has identified numerous core strategies, which would achieve the government’s vision for waste management. Over the course of 2021, be’ah signed strategic agreements to further the company’s circular economy goals and achieved significant progress in recycling by partnering with a number of important stakeholders to support local recyclers. We also helped two local businesses start UCO recycling operations that use biofuel, as well as provided technical and logistical support to paper recycling units.

Can you elaborate on the MoU with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) to build a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Barka?

In line with Oman Vision 2040, be’ah embarked on this project with the goal of achieving its economic development and environmental sustainability goals. Oman’s energy diversification ambitions and move to renewable sources have been greatly aided by the construction of the first WTE plant. This initiative will help to spur economic growth by opening up investment opportunities in the environmental sector and creating jobs through direct and indirect employment with SMEs and service providers. It also allows be’ah to fit into our ongoing efforts to reduce landfill use across the Sultanate, provide long-term waste management solutions, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Capable of consuming a daily capacity of 4,500 tons of municipal waste, the plant is expected to reduce landfill carbon emissions by 50 million tons in 35 years (1.3 million tons per year), accounting for 30% of total carbon dioxide equivalent currently emitted by landfill operations. It also promises a diversified energy sector by supplying 130-150MW from renewable sources. Such a significant reduction will aid Oman’s efforts to satisfy international commitments under the Paris Agreement. It also involves the private sector in the construction and operation of the WTE plant, providing a long-term platform for collaboration between two critical sectors with a common goal of long-term sustainability. Our new partnership is a significant step forward in be’ah and OPWP’s joint goal of integrating sustainable environmental practices and ideas into Oman’s energy industry.

be’ah has signed several cooperation agreements with PDO to help the company go green. What other sectors in the Omani economy are in most need of waste management?

A key sector where demand on waste management services have increased is healthcare. COVID-19 challenges led to an increase in healthcare waste (HCW) generation. be’ah was quick to respond to this sector’s needs by supporting the operations of its two HCW treatment facilities in Al Multaqa and Thumrait and building a third facility in Liwa. In addition, we have taken several operational measures such as deploying additional disposable biohazard bins for all labs and vaccinations centers and introducing flexible HCW collection schedules and enhanced operational procedures. Another key sector is industrial waste (IW) that has grown significantly with Oman’s increasing industrial base. be’ah is proactively responding to ensure sustainable IW management and safeguard Oman’s environment and ecosystems. Our company partnered with leading sustainability and environmental bodies across the world to introduce the latest best practices and bolstered operations in the IW treatment facility in Sohar, IW handling facility in Duqm, and the temporary IW storage facility in Liwa. be’ah also expanded its management services in special waste streams, particularly construction and demolition waste and end-of-life tires. We have signed a wider network of contractors and service providers and bolstered our infrastructure across the country to handle the existing and expected demand with sustainability always being at the core of all our solutions.