WtERT Executive President Prof. Qunxing Huang and Professor Bradley J. Cook, President of the American University of Iraq – Baghdad, formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a virtual ceremony held on the AUIB campus, marking an important milestone in advancing sustainable waste management and clean energy solutions in Iraq.
This partnership focuses on research, innovation, and education to support Iraq’s investment in modern infrastructure and address growing waste challenges. Key areas of cooperation include:
1/ R&D in Waste-to-Energy (WtE), including lab-scale and pilot facilities for material recovery, Waste-to-X solutions, and clean energy utilization.
2/ Training and capacity building for faculty, researchers, and PhD students, investing in the next generation of Iraqi scientists and engineers to lead the country’s transition toward resilient and sustainable systems.
3/ International academic collaboration, connecting AUIB to WtERT’s global academic network of 35 universities across 32 countries, fostering knowledge exchange, joint research, and innovation to move away from landfill-dependent practices toward circular economy solutions.
The ceremony was honored by the participation of Dr. Mona Al-Jaberi, Renewable Energy Advisor at the National Investment Commission of Iraq, and Allen Liu, Representative of SUS ENVIRONMENT, a leading Waste-to-Energy developer awarded the contract to build Iraq’s first WtE facility in Baghdad, designed to treat 3,000 tons of municipal waste per day and generate approximately 100 MW of clean power.
WtERT extends its sincere thanks to President Professor Bradley J. Cook and all AUIB participants, including Dr. Zouhair Attieh, Ms. Alicia Holland, Mr. Mahmood Hatem, Prof. David M. Kargbo, PhD, Dr. Myrna Semaan Mr. Hussam Steitieh-MIB, Mr. Yousef Jassim, and Ms. Asia Majeed, for contributing to the success of this event.
Special appreciation goes to Dr. David M. Kargbo, PhD, a long-standing member of the WtERT network since its foundation at Columbia University, and to Dr. Reda M. Kabbaj, VP for International Relations at WtERT, for their leadership in establishing this cooperation. We also welcome Dr. Myrna Semaan, Chair of WtERT Iraq, who will represent AUIB within the WtERT Council and support research and student engagement.
By bringing together universities, government, and industry, WtERT continues its mission to lead with science and engineering, reduce reliance on landfills, mitigate methane emissions, and expand resource recovery for a more sustainable future.
