$120m Energy from Waste Plant to Power 30% of Addis Ababa Households : VIDEO: 50MW Waste to Energy Plant Part of Sustainable Development Plans in Ethiopia

Cambridge Industries ethiopia waste to energy Addis Ababa
© Cambridge Industries

A 50 MW waste to energy facility is under construction in Addis Ababa following the $120 million deal between the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) and UK based Cambridge Industries.

According to Cambridge Industries the Koshe waste to energy facility will be the first of its kind in Africa and process around 350,000 tonnes of waste annually.

To supply the feedstock for the new waste to energy plant The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) is said to be working in collaboration with the Addis Ababa’s City administration to ensure waste collection is streamlined.

Once operational the facility, located alongside a 50 year old dumpsite, is expected to powermany as 30% of the Ethiopian capital’s households.

According to the World Bank Ethiopia has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years with GDP growth averaging 10.9% between 2004 and 2014. From being the second poorest in the world in 2000 it is set to become a middle income country by 2025.

This rise in income will likely create a parallel increase in waste generation and increased urbanisation.

According to a report by the Guardian the waste to energy project is just one facet of Ethiopia’s 4 year old climate resilient green economy (CRGE) strategy to limit its carbon footprint to less than 2010 levels by 2030 as it becomes a middle income nation.

“In doing this we ensure our development is sustainable, and another thing is we ensure we contribute positively to the global interest,” minister of environment and forest, Belete Tafere was reported to have said.

“We are absolutely going to depend on the renewable resources for our energy development,” Belete said. “Industries are going to use only energy from the grid that is renewable.”

“We are absolutely going to depend on the renewable resources for our energy development,” Belete added. “Industries are going to use only energy from the grid that is renewable.”

A short film looking at the waste to energy project and the Ethiopian market can be seen below.

https://youtu.be/7lEwuFysRUE

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