CONSULTATIONS surrounding the proposed waste-to-energy project officially began last night.
This follows the submission of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report to the Department of Environment Fiji yesterday.
The proposal by The Next Generation (TNG) Fiji outlines the development of an industrial precinct featuring an energy from waste facility capable of processing up to 900,000 tonnes of solid waste annually, with two combustion lines generating 40MW each.
It also includes plans for a dedicated deep-water port to handle waste bales and materials needed for the construction and operation of the facility and its associated infrastructure.
In a statement, TNG project partner Rob Cromb says the project aims to turn what Fijians throw away each day into a resource that fuels progress.
According to Mr Cromb, the project isn’t about burning rubbish for the sake of it; it’s about using proven, controlled technologies that convert non-recyclable waste into renewable energy, safely, efficiently, and to international environmental standards.
“This project offers Fiji an opportunity to address waste and energy head on, using technology that has been successfully implemented across the world,” he says.
“We’re not reinventing something untested; we’re bringing global best practice home.”
Why Vuda?
According to TNG, Vuda makes sense because it is strategically located near existing waste collection routes, port access, and major energy infrastructure.
The plant, proposed for the industrial zone, would process non-recyclable municipal solid waste, the same materials currently piling up in landfills or being illegally dumped along Fiji’s coasts and waterways.
At present, Fiji produces hundreds of tonnes of waste every day, and landfills are near capacity.
With population growth and tourism expansion, that volume will only rise.
Meanwhile, the country spends hundreds of millions annually importing fuel to power generators that fill the gap in electricity demand.
The TNG proposal tackles both issues in one stroke: turning waste into a fuel substitute that powers turbines, produces renewable electricity, and dramatically reduces waste volumes sent to landfill.
How the technology works
According to Mr Cromb, the waste to energy technology is successfully operating in over 2500 plants around the world as part of a circular approach to managing waste and energy.
The proposed TNG facility will use a controlled thermal conversion process where non-recyclable waste is heated at high temperatures in a regulated environment.
This process converts waste into steam, which in turn drives a turbine to produce electricity.
The high temperatures destroy pathogens and toxins, leaving only an inert ash residue that takes up far less space than raw waste.
Mr Cromb says stringent emission control systems, similar to those used in modern European facilities filter out pollutants, will be in place to ensure compliance with World Health Organization and European Union air quality standards.
“The technology is designed to be clean, controlled and efficient.
“This is not open burning; it’s sophisticated energy recovery with environmental safeguards at every step.”
According to Mr Cromb, one of the biggest advantages of the proposed plant is its self sufficiency.
Once operational, the system will generate the energy it needs to run, feeding excess power into Fiji’s national grid.
“That means less reliance on imported diesel and bunker fuel, less strain on Fiji’s foreign exchange reserves, and more renewable, locally sourced energy.”
Supporting the economy
Beyond environmental benefits, TNG says the project promises tangible local impact.
Construction and operation would create hundreds of jobs, boost technical training, and promote local supplier participation.
“We’re committed to engaging local communities, upskilling Fijian workers, and ensuring that this project delivers lasting benefits to the economy, not just to TNG.
“Of course, innovation rarely comes without criticism.
“A petition signed by over 8000 people has called for the project to be halted, citing concerns about emissions, coastal heritage, and potential ecological damage.”
Mr Cromb said those concerns are deeply felt and they deserve respect. But they also require context.
Much of the resistance stems from fears tied to older incineration methods, which operated without modern emission controls.
The difference today lies in advanced filtration, data monitoring, and regulatory transparency.
Clean energy from waste is not new or experimental; it’s a mainstream solution in highly regulated environments, used safely in densely populated cities from Singapore to Oslo.
