THE State government said it had taken a major step towards turning tonnes of solid waste generated in the metropolis into usable energy to power a total of 40, 000 homes across the state.
This is as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, formalised a partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste Consortium, for the construction of a high-efficiency waste-to-energy plant on Epe landfill, which will utilise advanced technology to generate clean energy from municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste.
A statement by the Special Adviser And Publicity to the Lagos State government, Gboyega Akosile, said the innovative waste management solution, is expected to take some 40,000 homes off the national electricity grid, as the technology would enhance energy security and diversification, generating between 60 and 75 megawatts of baseload electricity annually.
The partnership with the Amsterdam Netherlands-based firm, Akosile said was at the instance of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, while the agreement was signed under the supervision of the Lagos State Office of the Public Private Partnership (PPP).
While quoting Sanwo-Olu, the statement 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.
The governor 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.
He said: “Today marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos, as we formalise a partnership with Harvest Waste Consortium. This 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 per cent of our waste from landfill sites.”
