Poland: Awbud has signed a deal worth Euro2.85m with LafargeHolcim to build an alternative fuel warehouse and an office building. The deal follows another agreement signed between the companies for an ash-separation installation at Elektrownia Siekierki power station, in which LafargeHolcim has a 30% stake.
Morocco stops importing waste from Italy
Morocco: The Moroccan government has stopped importing waste from Italy following protests by environmentalists. The row followed reports in local media that Lafarge Maroc imported 2500t of solid recovered fuel from Campania, Italy.
The government first tried to calm tensions over the issue by pointing out that the waste is being used as a fuel, follows international standards and is not the first shipment of its kind. However, it then buckled to public pressure and stopped imports of waste pending an investigation. Morocco previously agreed a three-year deal with Italy to import 5Mt of waste to its El Jadida region, according to AfricaNews.
Everbright buys Novago for Euro123m
Poland: China Everbright International Limited has purchased waste management company Novago for Euro123m including a Euro118m equity purchase and a Euro5m land bank. Everbright lauded the buy as the largest Chinese acquisition in the environmental industry in Central and Eastern Europe and part of China’s One Belt One Road initiative.
“This acquisition serves as an important platform for Everbright International’s overseas development strategy and a solid foundation with strategic significance laid for future expansion in the Central and Eastern Europe market. The business can be further expanded by integrating the group’s advanced waste-to-energy technology and Novago‘s abundant local expertise,“ said Chen Xiaoping, chief executive officer of Everbright. He added that he hoped to bring Novago’s success back to China.
Established in 1992, Novago is the largest independent waste treatment company in Poland. Its business portfolio includes production of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), municipal waste treatment, waste recycling and landfill for biogas production and biogas cogeneration. It holds over a 30% market share in the Warsaw and Olsztyn provinces.
The transaction is conditional upon the issuance of merger clearance by the Poland’s Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.
Suez chief warns of policy void during Brexit negotiations
UK: David Palmer-Jones, the chief executive officer for Suez recycling and recovery UK, has warned that there is a risk of a void in national policy as the UK negotiates its future relationship with the European Union (EU).
"Although we supported Britain remaining in the European Union, Suez recycling and recovery UK respects the democratic will of the population and our focus remains on our policy of deriving the maximum value from the waste produced by UK households and businesses every day,” said Palmer-Jones. He added that EU membership for Britain has been a ‘crucial and effective’ driver of environmental policy and legislation in the country.