MD, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya
By Ejiofor Alike
Lagos State Government will partner Chinese investors for the supply of generators that will run on methane gas harvested from septic tanks from homes and offices, as part of the efforts to boost electricity supply in the state.
Managing Director of Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), Mr. Ola Oresanya, who disclosed this at a recent renewable summit in Lagos, noted that the plan was part of the government’s strategy of converting the abundant waste in the state into energy.
Waste-to-energy is the process of generating electricity or heat from the incineration of waste sources.
Most waste-to-energy processes produce electricity directly through combustion, or produce combustible fuel, such as methane, methanol, ethanol or synthetic fuels.
Oresanya stated that under the arrangement, Chinese investors would bring in the generators, while the state government, through LAWMA would harvest methane gas to run the plants.
“In the case of using biomass for domestic power generation, we are working with some groups from China that will bring generators that will run on methane harvested from even septic tanks in the homes. So, these are part of the things we are doing right now in Lagos and we are going to make a presentation of what we have done so far, in a month’s time,” he said.
He stated that LAWMA was harvesting the waste from the main site at Olusosun in Ojota, where it has a gas capturing facility.
According to him, by the middle of this year, the agency would be able to generate 2megawatts from the methane generated in the area as clean gas.
Oresanya further disclosed that by the end of this February, the agency would use organic waste to power generators at Ikosi market, adding that this feat would be replicated in other markets across the state, to reduce the energy demand in Lagos State.
“The first one will take off in about three-week time at Ikosi market and it will be replicated in other markets in Lagos State. So, that, probably will reduce the energy demand on the city,” he said.
“At Olusosun Landfill, we have developed gas wells to manage and recycle municipal solid waste into clean energy. Landfill gas can be generated 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Landfill gas is extracted from landfills using a series of wells and a blower system,” he added.
According to him, this system directs the collected gas to a central point where it can be processed and treated, depending on the ultimate use for it.
He declared that landfill gas to energy projects do not only mean decreasing the hazards towards the climate but also serve as substitute for fossil fuels.