Lagos, Swedish firms partner to reduce energy costs with waste-to-energy conversion

The Lagos State Government is set to partner with Swedish organizations in its efforts to convert solid and liquid waste into energy.

Speaking during a meeting with representatives from the firms on Tuesday, the commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, reportedly emphasised that the project is not an option but a necessity for the state as “Lagos generates between 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes of waste per day.”

A statement released on Wednesday by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina, read, “The quest to make good use of the high solid waste generated in Lagos State got another boost on Tuesday as the state expressed readiness to partner with some Sweden organizations on how to turn both solid waste and liquid waste to energy across the metropolis.

“Speaking during the meeting at Alausa, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the state will continue to pay special attention to waste management, adding that waste is not a waste but remains one of the best resources everywhere.”

He reportedly expressed the ministry’s resolve to embrace any project that will cut the carbon footprint in the state and is open to suggestions on possible productive ways to turn waste into a resource.

According to the statement, Wahab noted that the waste-to-energy project will provide a solution to the high cost of Premium Motor Spirit in Lagos, which is a result of the current energy crisis in Nigeria.

It read, “According to him, as a result of the current energy crisis in Nigeria, this has caused the spike in the cost of PMS and its multiple effects on the economy. So if the Lagos State Government can go ahead with this project, it will solve half of the problem of the PMS high price in Lagos.

“This project is something we have to pursue deliberately and diligently. This is because while the government, on its own part, is trying to push out CNG at a lower cost, conversion of waste to energy will also be an option, especially for public transport in Lagos.”

Wahab was also said to have noted that the state’s location as a coastal city poses unique environmental challenges, including flooding, and that the waste-to-energy project would help mitigate these issues.

The statement further highlighted previous collaborations with two Dutch companies earlier in the year to turn waste into energy and manage electronic waste.

The head of the delegation, representative of the Consul of Sweden, and the Business Promotion Officer, Sweden Embassy Abuja, Sara Ibru, reportedly noted that the Swedish organizations are willing to collaborate with Lagos State to turn solid and liquid wastes into valuable resources.

“The organization’s representatives include the Swedish Trade and Investment Council ( Business Sweden); Honourary Consul of Sweden in Nigeria; Swedish Development Agency (SDA);  NIR International Council of Swedish Industry and Swedfund” the statement revealed.

PUNCH reported earlier in October the Lagos State Government said it had received a €120m support fund from the Dutch government to support its waste-to-energy project in partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste Consortium.