Netherlands Commits €120 Million to Lagos Waste-to-Energy Project

The Netherlands government has committed €120 million ($132 million) to support a waste-to-energy project in Lagos, Nigeria. This initiative is part of a partnership between the Lagos State Government and Dutch company Harvest Waste Consortium, aimed at converting part of Lagos’ daily waste into electricity.

Waste-to-Energy: A Solution for Lagos’ Waste Management Challenges

Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, produces around 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes of waste daily. The waste-to-energy project will be based at the decommissioned Epe landfill, where Harvest Waste plans to process between 2,500 and 3,000 tonnes of waste per day. This partnership signifies a major step towards sustainable waste management and renewable energy production in the region.

According to Tokunbo Wahab, State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, the only requirement for the project’s success is a guaranteed supply of waste. Wahab also confirmed that feasibility studies have been completed, and Harvest Waste is fully committed to moving the project forward.

Partnerships Driving Sustainability

The Lagos State Government is actively decommissioning landfills to make space for new waste management projects. These efforts are aligned with the state’s goal to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills to just 3% to 4%.

Lagos is also working with the Jospong Group, a waste-to-wealth company based in Accra. Their focus is on transforming waste into valuable products like compost fertilizers and recycled plastic bins. The company expects to begin operations within six months and will hire Nigerians as part of the workforce.

Another key partner is Dutch company Closing the Loop, which will manage electronic waste in Lagos. They plan to repurpose e-waste materials, reducing the need to export electronic waste and supporting local resource management.

A Path Towards Sustainability

These initiatives mark a significant shift in Lagos’ waste management strategy, with the aim of turning waste into valuable resources. The waste-to-energy project, alongside partnerships with Jospong Group and Closing the Loop, reflects Lagos’ commitment to sustainability and renewable energy.

Once operational, these projects will drastically reduce landfill waste and help Lagos achieve its sustainability targets.