The Lagos State Government is to set up waste-to-energy plants in strategic places in an effort to effectively manage waste.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos.
Gbadegesin said that the initiative was part of LAWMA’s effort to reduce waste pollution and promote a circular economy.
The managing director said that LAWMA would close the Olusosun dumpsite at Ojota and other dumpsites to pave for the establishment of the plants.
“We will set up a materials recovery facility at Ikorodu,” he said, adding that the construction of the facility would take about 15 months.
“When we close the dumpsites, we will divert the waste to a material recovery facility in Badagry.
“We will extract all the biogas to generate electricity and cover the waste.
“In the case of Olusosun, we are looking at working with industrial facilities at the back of the dumpsite, which can use the gas to power their generators,” he said.
The managing director said that the projects would be done in partnership with private investors.
“We are planning a biogas facility, we completed the feasibility study last year in partnership with the Swedish Government.
“Sweden has achieved zero waste because it takes up its sewage and organic waste and use them to produce biomethane in large quantities.
“If they can do it, we can. We are planning to replicate the Swedish model here.
“Out of the 13,000 tonnes of waste generated daily in Lagos State, 6,500 tonnes are organic which should not be going to the landfills.
“We should be able to use it to produce compost for greenery and for agriculture and also to produce biomethane.”
Gbadegesin said that the feasibility study for the biogas facility was done by LAWMA in partnership with Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.
“It will be bringing in 2,000 compressed natural gas-powered buses.
“Once the biogas plant is completed, they will be using it,” he said.
He added that LAWMA was in partnership with a Dutch company to generate electricity through waste.
“We want to set it up at Epe. We have closed the landfill at Epe to set up the waste-to-energy plant.
“This will be set up in partnership with a private investor, a Dutch company, Harvest Waste.”
Gbadegesin said that the Dutch company would support setting up of the plant to the tune of €100 million.
According to the managing director, the plant would take about 2,500 tonnes of waste daily and produce 60 megawatts to 80 megawatts of electricity.
“From the development in Lagos, we are moving to another level. It gives us hope that if we put our minds to development, we can be the best,” he said.
By Mercy Omoike