GMWDA Sets A Route Plan For Closing Its PFI Contract
A report on the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA)’s PFI contract progress to date, went to the GMWDA’s Authority meeting today. The report also set out the proposed timetable to take the PFI contract to contract conclusion by the end of the financial year.
The 25 year contract will provide the Greater Manchester area with a new treatment infrastructure for their municipal waste which will recycle 50% of waste and reduce the volume of waste that is sent to landfill by more than 700,000 tonnes a year.
The Authority had aspired to complete negotiations and achieve financial close by the end of December; however the GMWDA is negotiating the largest and most complex waste management contract of its kind in Western Europe. The reason for delay in financial close is due to ensuring the right technological solution at the refuse derived fuel (RDF) outlet at a known cost and agreeing the contractual arrangements.
Despite the later contract conclusion date, the Authority has made good progress in many areas. This includes the project agreement, planning applications where 16 have been lodged and 5 have been approved and the vast majority of service delivery plans, by which the contract will be implemented, are now agreed.
Negotiations with the preferred bidder Viridor/Laing started in earnest in February this year to deliver the state-of-the-art new technology with Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facilities with Anaerobic Digestion producing green electricity and In-Vessel Composters (IVC). The contract has the benefit of Viridor/Laing linking with Ineos Chlor to provide an outlet for the RDF from the MBT facilities.
Speaking today, GMWDA Chair, Councillor Neil Swannick said:
“The ‘world class’ waste solution for Greater Manchester which includes the Ineos Chlor facility, enables the Authority to show its active support and commitment to the Climate Change agenda, by using a plant which will produce combined heat and power.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS
GMWDA is the largest of six English waste disposal authorities that were created under the Local Government Act 1985. GMWDA provides waste disposal services for 958,000 households in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford. It handles around 5% of national municipal waste.
The Authority is in the later stages of a procurement of a 25 year waste services contract using the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). In January 2007 the Authority appointed the Viridor/Laing consortia as its Preferred Bidder. The Authority has subsequently provided details of the emerging technical solution and new infrastructure (see Press Related Press Releases at: www.gmwda.gov.uk).
For further information please call Anna Figgins-Barrett, Communications Manager on 0161 770 1721.