Ethiopia’s Kosche landfill site has been transformed into a power generation plant

Many African countries have struggled regulating their waste management, such as Ethiopia, which last year saw 114 people killed in the nation’s largest landfill site in the capital city.

The 50-year old site, dubbed Kosche, which stretches across land the equivalent to the size of 36 football pitches, has now been transformed into Africa’s first waste-to-energy plant.

The Reppie Waste-to-Energy Project has enabled to the site to dispose of 1,400 tonnes of waste per day, accounting for 80% of Addis Ababa’s landfill generation.

Through burning rubbish, the heat generated boils water in turn creating steam to power turbines.

SEE ALSO:

• Lean Energy Solutions are generating fuel from agriculture waste

• Ethiopian Airlines to launch flight to Chicago in June

• Kenafric becomes one of the first food and beverage firms to enter the Ethiopian market

• Read the latest issue of Business Chief, Africa edition, here

The plant can generate enough power to supply households with 30% of their electricity needs, and will conform to European air emission standards.

The plant will also create more space for Ethiopia’s capital city, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and toxic chemical release.

“The Reppie project is just one component of Ethiopia’s broader strategy to address pollution and embrace renewable energy across all sectors of the economy,” remarked the country’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Zerubbabel Getachew, last year.

“We hope that Reppie will serve as a model for other countries in the region, and around the world.”