TOKYO - Obayashi
Corp is preparing to launch clean development mechanism
(CDM) operations. The CDM system, outlined in the Kyoto
Protocol, makes it possible to obtain greenhouse gas
emission trading rights by engaging in energy-saving
activities in developing countries.
Obayashi
recently looked into a CDM business proposal based on a
waste-processing site in Thailand and confirmed its
feasibility. The plan is to recover gas, chiefly
methane, from the processing site and use it to generate
electricity.
The company
determined revenues and expenditures for the proposal
assuming operation from 2007-2016. It sees initial
investments in power generation equipment of 120 million
yen (US$1 million). It expects sales of power generated
from the recovered gas to be 250 million yen. In
addition, the firm expects the methane gas collected
over 10 years to be the equivalent of 550,000 tons of
carbon dioxide. It expects trading in the emission
rights to this CO2
to
yield an income of 140 million yen.
Obayashi is
now making preparations to move forward on the
development of the operations. With domestic demand for
construction down, it aims to develop CDM projects
abroad.
