… Waste-to-Energy plant sets to be located on Epe landfill, power 40,000 households
… “It promises to reduce 550,000 tonnes of CO2 daily, divert 95% of Lagos waste from landfills”- Sanwo-Olu
… “It would turn Lagos waste burden to wealth” – Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources
Oredola Adeola
The Lagos State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Harvest Waste Consortium, a Dutch firm, to introduce a waste treatment solution that will convert nearly 3,000 tonnes of waste daily into between 60 and 75 MegaWatts of electricity annually.
Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser and Publicity to the Lagos State Government made this known in a statement obtained by Advisors Reports on Tuesday.
Advisors Reports gathered that the Amsterdam Netherlands-based Harvest Waste Consortium is expected to construct the high-efficiency waste-to-energy plant on Epe landfill, which will utilise the advanced technology to generate clean energy from municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste to power more than 40,000 households in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, while formalising the agreement, said the inadequacies of the current waste disposal practices in the state, led to the sealing of the partnership to bring about innovative alternatives towards reducing environmental pollution, improving air quality, and stemming degradation and contamination of water resources that posed threats to the life quality in the state.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the partnership represented a “monumental step” forward in his administration’s waste management strategy, stressing that the move marked another milestone in the journey to build a clean, healthy, and more sustainable city.
According to him, this project promises to reduce 550,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions daily, improve air quality, and divert 95% of our waste from landfills.
He said, “This project marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, as we formalize a partnership with Harvest Waste Consortium. It is a collaboration that promises to transform waste management and energy production in our state.
“The growth of our population signifies progress and opportunity, just as it presents challenges, particularly in managing the increasing volumes of municipal solid waste. We sought innovative and sustainable solutions through extensive consultations, visits, and a thorough exchange of information with our partners from the Netherlands.
“We are thrilled to announce the construction and operation of a high-efficiency waste-to-energy plant in Lagos. This state-of-the-art facility will be built with the capacity to process 2,250 tonnes of waste daily, representing a monumental step forward in our waste management strategy.
“The plant will not only provide a sustainable alternative to the current practice of waste dumping, but it will also divert more than 95 percent of our waste from landfill sites,” the Lagos State Governor said.
Sanwo-Olu further emphasised that the initiative would significantly reduce the environmental footprint of Lagos waste disposal methods, with the plant expected to trap about 550,000 metric tons of Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted daily from dumpsites.
Beyond the environmental benefits, the governor said the project, which has over 25 years of operational lifespan, would stimulate economic activities around the initiative while attracting major investments to the State and creating jobs.
Sanwo-Olu said the technology had not only proven reliable but had also been tested by the European Commission as the best available technology in terms of efficiency.
“The facility will ensure that the potentially harmful effects of municipal solid waste are minimised, thereby protecting public health and the environment. This project will not only enhance public health and well-being but also contribute to the circular economy by reducing landfill dependency and promoting recycling,” the Lagos State Governor said.
Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, on his part, said the partnership created a new mandate for Lagos to seek solid waste management solutions.
He said the partnership would make the state turn its burden to wealth and create new value from waste conversion.
“The partnership is fully backed by the Dutch government, “Wahab noted.
Leonie Van der Stijl, Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands Consulate, on his part, said the partnership presented the possibility of international collaboration to solve local challenges, noting that Lagos, through the pact, became the first partner of the Dutch waste management.
The envoy gave assurance of the Dutch government’s commitment to the success of the agreement.
Evert Lichtenbelt, Managing Director of Harvest Waste Consortium, said the firm had built an international reputation in properly managing solid waste.
“Amsterdam and Lagos share similar challenges in managing population and waste. What we do is export knowledge on managing waste properly.
“This MoU has set a good pace for both partners. We proposed to manage part of the solid waste of Lagos and in the future, we can expand,” Lichtenbelt said.
