Business
The Oyo State government is evolving an ambitious policy to source alternative and reliable energy through the utilization of land fill gas.
The first phase of the scheme is the conversion of biogas to electricity at the 12- hectare Awotan dumpsite on the outskirt of Ibadan.
Idowu Salawu, environmental consultant and chief executive officer, Macpresse West Africa Limited, who is handling the rehabilitation of the site, explained that the on-going revitalisation, rebuilding and reforming processes at the dumpsite would boost Oyo State’s electricity supply chain, if the State partners with a Solar Energy company.
Salawu further said tapping into the renewable energy potentials of the dumpsite would be a good support for the Federal Government’s off-grid power supply in the State.
“The decision to tap into the solar and landfill gas, as the end use of the dumpsite is the best decision, because the government does not have to worry on the Federal Government’s off grid supply of electricity, once it partners with a solar energy company,” said Salawu.
He affirmed that the end use of the dumpsite is to generate electricity of one megawatt per hectare, adding that landfill gas tapped from the dumpsite can conveniently generate energy for electricity.
He stressed that the rehabilitation of the dumpsite is one of the prerequisites for the clean and green initiative of the State Government, describing the move as a commendable policy of converting the brown environment into a green economy, which in turn has affected the host community.
The Environmental Consultant said the government has established a value chain of employment with no fewer than 200 skilled and semi-skilled workers engaged on the dumpsite which is one of the benefits of the rehabilitation process to the host community.
“The dumpsite, after completion, would receive waste from various Private Sector Participants and we have created a 1Km access road which makes it easy for heavy duty compactors to deliver the wastes. The job has reached 80% completion.
“Presently, we have engaged many skilled and unskilled young people on this project. This is one of the many advantages of this rehabilitation process to Awotan, the host community”, he said.
Salawu said it was obvious that the rehabilitation process has affected the socio-economic activities of the host community with the job at 80% completion stage.
He urged an attitudinal change among residents of the state even as he suggested the commercialization of waste management in line with best international practices to ensure a sustainable green environment.
– Aug 2, 2020 @ 8:49 GMT /
Tags: Idowu Salawu Oyo embraces renewable energy
