NIGERIA – The Lagos State government has launched an initiative to convert solid waste into usable energy, aiming to power 40,000 homes across the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu formalized a partnership with the Dutch firm Harvest Waste Consortium. This collaboration will see the construction of a high-efficiency waste-to-energy plant at the Epe landfill, utilizing advanced technology to generate clean energy from municipal, commercial, and industrial waste.
Gboyega Akosile, the Lagos State government’s special adviser on publicity, stated that this innovative waste management solution is expected to remove approximately 40,000 homes from the national electricity grid.
The technology will enhance energy security and diversification, generating between 60 and 75 megawatts of baseload electricity annually.
The partnership, facilitated by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and supervised by the Lagos State Office of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), aims to address the inadequacies of current waste disposal practices.
The agreement seeks to reduce environmental pollution, improve air quality, and curb water resource contamination, thereby improving the quality of life in Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described the partnership as a “monumental step” in the state’s waste management strategy, highlighting it as a key milestone in the quest for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos.
He emphasized the importance of innovative and sustainable solutions to manage the increasing volumes of municipal solid waste driven by population growth.
“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 process 2,250 tonnes of waste daily, diverting more than 95% of our waste from landfill sites,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
He noted that the plant would significantly reduce Lagos’s environmental footprint, trapping about 550,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted daily from dumpsites.
With an operational lifespan of over 25 years, the project is expected to stimulate economic activities, attract major investments, and create jobs.
The technology, proven reliable and tested by the European Commission as the best available in terms of efficiency, will minimize the harmful effects of municipal solid waste, thereby protecting public health and the environment.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab highlighted that the partnership mandates Lagos to seek solid waste management solutions, transforming waste from a burden to a valuable resource. The Dutch government fully backs this initiative.
Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands Consulate Leonie Van der Stijl praised the international collaboration, noting that Lagos is now the first partner of Dutch waste management. She assured the Dutch government of its commitment to the agreement’s success.
Evert Lichtenbelt, Managing Director of Harvest Waste Consortium, expressed confidence in the collaboration, citing Amsterdam and Lagos’s shared challenges in managing population and waste.
“We proposed to manage part of the solid waste of Lagos, and in the future, we can expand,” Lichtenbelt said.
This partnership marks a significant leap towards sustainable waste management and energy production in Lagos, setting a new environmental stewardship and economic growth standard.
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