News
Lanka can use municipal solid waste to produce 10 tonnes of hydrogen daily – Engineering expert
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Hydrogen an important clean energy source of the future, Sri Lanka can produce 10 tonnes of it a day from municipal solid waste, Eng. Ruwan Nagahawatte, head of the mechanical engineering sectional committee of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) said.
Nagahawatte said hydrogen is a clean alternative to methane, also known as natural gas. Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element, estimated to contribute 75% of the mass of the universe. According to a 2023 McKinsey analysis, hydrogen could contribute to more than 20 percent of annual global emissions reductions by 2050.
As of mid-2023, over 1,000 large-scale hydrogen projects have been announced worldwide, totaling $320 billion in direct investments. In Europe alone, $117 billion has been invested in hydrogen projects so far. According to McKinsey, hydrogen is expected to play a crucial role in achieving decarbonization targets in the region.
Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biogas and renewable power like solar and wind. The challenge is harnessing hydrogen as a gas on a large scale to fuel our homes and businesses, he said.
Hydrogen can also be produced through methane that can be generated by solid waste. Western province alone generates 300 tonnes of biodegradable municipal solid waste a day and this can be used to produce 7.2 tonnes of methane per day.
“This in turn can be used to produce two tonnes of hydrogen a day. We are talking about the western province alone. With efficient collection of biodegradable waste, Sri Lanka can produce 10 tonnes of hydrogen a day. Sri Lanka can generate over 3,000 tonnes of hydrogen per annum while providing a solution for municipal solid waste disposal. The project needs an investment of 11 million U.S. dollars but the annual revenue generation is expected to be 4.5 million dollars,” he said.
Eng. Nagahawatte, however, pointed out that there are some engineering challenges in the production of hydrogen. The production of hydrogen needs ultra-pure water, a high-grade water that’s free from impurities like microbes, minerals, and dissolved gases through high levels of purification.
“Generating this water is more difficult than producing hydrogen,” he said.
The Head of the Mechanical Engineering Sectional Committee added that hydrogen also needs to be stored below minus (-) 253 centigrade in insulated tanks to maintain this temperature and minimize evaporation. These temperatures are called cryogenic temperatures, i.e., the temperature at which molecular motion comes as close as theoretically possible to ceasing completely.
Eng. Nagahawatte added that hydrogen must be stored at high pressure (350-700 bars) but the technology is improving and that the cost of capital is decreasing rapidly, making it affordable.
“Despite all challenges, the world is very much enthusiastic about hydrogen. This is because of high value as well as environmental considerations. We can start small. We can actually start producing methane first and sell it to consumers. Methane is natural gas, the only difference between this and what we have in cylinders is that this is not liquefied,” he said.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a high-level dialogue titled “Tourism as Soft Power and Diplomatic Capital” held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on January 20.
The session explored how tourism functions as a strategic instrument of diplomacy by strengthening international trust, cultural exchange, and regional cooperation through mobility and people-to-people engagement. The Prime Minister shared the panel with Mr. Kuban Omiraliyev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States and Mr. Meshari Alnahar – CEO Aseer Investment Company, Saudi Arabia.
Addressing global trends, the Prime Minister emphasized that Sri Lanka is an example of hope, recovery and resilience in a world of conflict demonstrating how tourism can play a critical role in a changing global environment particularly amid climate shocks, geopolitical instability, and uneven economic recovery. She noted that tourism is not only an economic sector but also a vital diplomatic bridge that supports livelihoods, builds relationships and connects people.
Drawing on Sri Lanka’s recent experience, she highlighted the country’s strong tourism recovery despite multiple crises, including the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Transparent crisis management and strategic engagement with international partners helped sustain visitor confidence, resulting in record tourist arrivals even in challenging circumstances.
The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of green and climate friendly tourism infrastructure and underlined that Sri Lanka welcomes long term investment in tourism. She pointed out that tourism supports millions of jobs worldwide and that inclusive policies are essential to ensure fair opportunities, particularly for women and vulnerable communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 20 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized two (02) Indian fishing boats and apprehended seven (07) Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan, Jaffna.
The seized boats and Indian fishermen was to be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a series of high-level bilateral meetings on January 20 on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
The Prime Minister attended a productive bilateral meeting with Mr. Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. During the discussion, both sides focused on strengthening Sri Lanka–EU cooperation and advancing mutual interests.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Mr. Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), at the WEF Congress Centre. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing engagement and future collaboration between Sri Lanka and the ADB.
In addition, the Prime Minister held discussions with Mr. Hassan El Houry, Chairman of Menzies Aviation, where opportunities for collaboration in aviation services and connectivity were explored.
The Prime Minister also participated in a high-level dialogue at the Global Tourism Forum held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin, Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum engagements.
Dr. Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour, and the Deputy Minister of Finance were also present at these meetings.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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