A fire in the AVR energy recovery facility in the Netherlands in September 2023 led to an immediate shutdown and a halt in the incoming stream of secondary fuels to the plant. Being one of Europe's most significant Energy-from-Waste facilities, the 1,3 million tonnes capacity plant in Rozenburg outside of Rotterdam has since needed a diversion of RDF during the rehabilitation process, which is presumed to last until October this year.
Geminor was recently assigned a contract managing RDF that could no longer be processed at the AVR plant.
Kai Schöpwinkel is the Country Manager (CM) of Geminor France, and is in charge of the project.
"The contract involves diverting significant RDF volumes from AVR to highly efficient EfW facilities in the Nordic countries. There is a big need for waste for energy recovery in the Nordics this winter season, and the secondary fuels will be sent to Finland, Sweden and Norway by bulk or container transport in the months to come,” says Schöpwinkel.
“With a more than 10-year-long partnership with AVR, we have managed to find a swift solution to this extraordinary situation. The first shipments of baled MSW, which has been stored at the AVR plant, is now leaving Dutch ports for Finland,” says Schöpwinkel.
The swiftness of the operation has been possible due to a quick response and efficient handling of Transfrontier Shipment (TFS) notifications by Dutch and Nordic authorities, explains the CM of Geminor France.
“The responsiveness from the authorities in this process has been integral in facilitating the swift diversion of RDF. We are impressed by how the respective authorities have been proactive in the notification process and ensured a rapid transport and sustainable recovery of the waste resources,” concludes CM of Germinor France, Kai Schöpwinkel.
