Plasma arc gasification is an exciting technology that provides complete destruction of complex waste streams with massive volume reduction. The importance to military operations is substantial as waste management is a costly and cumbersome operation that takes time, money, space and effort. Not forgetting the importance of adequate sewage hygiene on the success of military campaigns, the modern world is of course full of those who criticise any breach of environmental regulations as the US military have discovered to their cost.

Now, mobile waste gasification units have been made available for military applications. These seem ideal for purpose, and can be shipped in and recovered as requred. There is also potential in the operation of such mobile units for selected hazardous and phara waste treatments operating on a supraregional basis here at home. Mobility permits relocation when the next NHS reorganisation shifts hospital demographics or new markets are developed and the transport map is shifted toward a new waste source.

This was the basis of my recommendations to financiers and developers some years back, who opted instead for ‘fruits on the lower branches’ in order to reap a reward with less effort. that is business, though they were kicking themselves two years on when a competitor unveiled a compact shipboard plasma arc gasification unit aimed at cruise ships and the military, exactly as I had proposed!

Ian