SWM Achieves a New Milestone with Gas-to-Energy (GTE) Cogeneration Prototype
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari symbolically launching the gas-to-energy cogeneration prototype project, witnessed by Datuk Amar Prof. Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government; Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar bin Marzuki, Sarawak State Secretary and SWM Chairman; Stephen Chin, SWM Director and Group CEO and other VVIPs.
Sarawak Wastes Management (SWM) Sdn. Bhd. has reached an exciting milestone with the launch of its GTE cogeneration prototype at the Kuching Integrated Waste Management Park (KIWMP).
This initiative captures methane from landfill waste and converts it into renewable energy—transforming waste into a valuable resource while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
As a key facility in Sarawak’s waste management system, KIWMP continues to evolve by integrating advanced waste-to-energy solutions and strengthening its role in supporting a circular economy.
The Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Abang Haji Openg, recently visited the facility and was briefed on the GTE cogeneration prototype project by SWM Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Chin.
The Premier said that the prototype plant at KIWMP is capable of extracting gas from waste and converting it into hydrogen and electricity, currently producing about five kilowatts of power.
Although currently small in scale, he noted that the system has strong potential for upscaling, depending on the volume of waste and the cost of conversion.
“If waste increases, you can scale up the power supply. At the same time, you clean the air. So, there are two outcomes—power generation and cleaner air,” he said.
SWM Director and Group CEO, Stephen Chin, shared that the sanitary landfill currently receives about 700 tonnes of municipal waste daily from areas under the DBKU, MBKS, MPP, MPKS, and parts of the Serian District. With increasing volumes, the company is shifting its focus towards converting waste into a resource.
“Waste is no longer something to simply discard—it is now recognised as a valuable asset within the circular economy, where materials are recovered and transformed into new value streams. Through this initiative, we are harnessing methane gas from landfill operations and converting it into renewable energy for use within our Mambong facilities.
With continued investment and research, this system has strong potential to be scaled up in support of Sarawak’s sustainability and circular economy goals,” said Chin.
SWM remains committed to driving innovation—proving that waste is not a burden, but an opportunity for sustainable growth.
Stephen briefing the Premier and VIP guests on operational capacity of the plant.