French firm Constructions Industrielles De La Mediterranee will build Bahrain’s first recycling plant following a contract granted by the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry.

Work on the BD300 million project could begin by the end of 2009 after the completion of all relevant studies.
Construction itself could take two or three years but once the plant is operational the landfill waste disposal site in Hafeera, off Askar, would be closed.
The site for the plant is unresolved after a recommendation that it be located in Askar was blocked by Southern Municipality Council members.
The new plant could occupy an area of between 250,000 sq m and 300,000 sq m.
“CNIM’s waste treatment technologies enable solutions to be provided to local government authorities with a permanent concern to protect the environment,” the company says.
“The energy contained in the waste is converted into electricity or heat without depleting natural resources and thus contributes to improving our quality of life and to meeting our needs.”
Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Dr Juma Al Ka’abi said the contract had been awarded after extensive study on the effectiveness of the plant and the urgent need for it.
“Everything has been taken into consideration - the environment aspect, the technical requirements and that it is cost-saving,” he said.
“The project will not only help us get rid of waste, but will also generate electricity that is enough for a new government housing city to use.”
Dr Al Ka’abi said the Hafeera site would be full within seven years.
CNIM supervisory board vice-chairman Francois Canellas told the Gulf Daily News that Bahrain was in desperate need of the plant.
“We have taken ministry officials and council chairmen on a tour to countries where our factories are located, such as Monaco, London and Paris, and among those who praised the project on record was Southern Municipal Council chairman Ali Al Mohannadi,” he said.
“The government has given us 18 months, but we expect to begin work by the end of 2009.”
Canellas said he was hoping to persuade Al Mohannadi to think again over blocking the original proposed site.
CNIM will open its office early next year to help speed up its studies.
Present at the signing ceremony was Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, who said that government funding for the project reflected its importance.
“It is one of the basic ‘musts’ the government has in line to achieve further development and this is why we are keen on having the project going ahead without any delay,” he said.