Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ACCRA68
2009-01-30 08:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:
TALKING TRASH-ENERGY FROM WASTE (EFW) TECHNOLOGY
how-toR 300830Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7537
UNCLAS ACCRA 000068
FOR OES/PCI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KCRM KGHG COM XY ZF GH
SUBJECT: TALKING TRASH-ENERGY FROM WASTE (EFW) TECHNOLOGY
SUMMARY
UNCLAS ACCRA 000068
FOR OES/PCI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KCRM KGHG COM XY ZF GH
SUBJECT: TALKING TRASH-ENERGY FROM WASTE (EFW) TECHNOLOGY
SUMMARY
1. The Regional Environmental Officer (REO) met with Mr.
Samuel Anku of the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency
(GEPA) and a project consultant, Mr. Dyson Jumpah, on January
23, 2009 as follow up to previous discussions regarding solid
waste management in Ghana and a recent proposal for a public
private partnership (PPP) to deploy EFW technology as a means
to generate electricity (around 50 megawatts),mitigate
carbon, and promote economic growth. END SUMMARY.
GEPA
2. Perhaps the combination of improved incineration
technology, carbon market schemes and municipal solid waste
management challenges served as the catalyst for a change of
the GEPA position on waste incineration for the production of
electricity in Ghana. In 2007, the GEPA Executive Director,
Mr. Jonathan Allotey remarked negatively on the using solid
waste as fuel to generate electricity. Mr. Anku and Mr.
Jumpah stated the project feasibility was completed in late
2008 and a tentative project start date is set for April 2009.
They did not offer additional details on the project.
TECHNOLOGY
3. EFW technology was initially developed as a solution to
safely remediate contaminated sites encumbered by the most
dangerous manmade contaminants including military waste,
pharmaceutical and medical waste. The proprietary EFW
technology, Canadian origin, is approved for use in all nine
of the US EPA regions and has an ISO 14064-2 certification. A
Canadian firm, Energy Income Trust International (EITI) and
the Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA) are engaged in initial
efforts develop a partnership. According to a KMA officer, Mr.
Tony Mensah, the project should begin sometime in the second
quarter of 2009. The KMA is supplying the land for the
project site, utilities (water, electricity and
telecommunications) and EITI will provide the equipment,
technical and operation personnel. Further, the partnership
is designed for 20 years, represents a $250-350 million USD
investment over the life of the project, and ownership is
transferred to the KMA at the end of the partnership. COMMENT:
An EFW system is typically dependent on a specific volume of
waste and in some cases, certain types of waste to maintain
commodity output. Although Mr. Anku confirmed Ghana would not
import waste for fuel necessary to operate an EFW facility, it
will be interesting to talk trash with project scientists,
plant operators and Ghanaian Customs officials to learn if
illicit trafficking and dumping of undesirable waste material
is occurring in and around Ghana.
END COMMENT.
4. For further discussion contact Geoffrey Hunt at +233-21-
741- 417 or Patience Charway at +233-21-741-839.
TEITELBAUM
FOR OES/PCI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KCRM KGHG COM XY ZF GH
SUBJECT: TALKING TRASH-ENERGY FROM WASTE (EFW) TECHNOLOGY
SUMMARY
1. The Regional Environmental Officer (REO) met with Mr.
Samuel Anku of the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency
(GEPA) and a project consultant, Mr. Dyson Jumpah, on January
23, 2009 as follow up to previous discussions regarding solid
waste management in Ghana and a recent proposal for a public
private partnership (PPP) to deploy EFW technology as a means
to generate electricity (around 50 megawatts),mitigate
carbon, and promote economic growth. END SUMMARY.
GEPA
2. Perhaps the combination of improved incineration
technology, carbon market schemes and municipal solid waste
management challenges served as the catalyst for a change of
the GEPA position on waste incineration for the production of
electricity in Ghana. In 2007, the GEPA Executive Director,
Mr. Jonathan Allotey remarked negatively on the using solid
waste as fuel to generate electricity. Mr. Anku and Mr.
Jumpah stated the project feasibility was completed in late
2008 and a tentative project start date is set for April 2009.
They did not offer additional details on the project.
TECHNOLOGY
3. EFW technology was initially developed as a solution to
safely remediate contaminated sites encumbered by the most
dangerous manmade contaminants including military waste,
pharmaceutical and medical waste. The proprietary EFW
technology, Canadian origin, is approved for use in all nine
of the US EPA regions and has an ISO 14064-2 certification. A
Canadian firm, Energy Income Trust International (EITI) and
the Kumasi Metropolitan Authority (KMA) are engaged in initial
efforts develop a partnership. According to a KMA officer, Mr.
Tony Mensah, the project should begin sometime in the second
quarter of 2009. The KMA is supplying the land for the
project site, utilities (water, electricity and
telecommunications) and EITI will provide the equipment,
technical and operation personnel. Further, the partnership
is designed for 20 years, represents a $250-350 million USD
investment over the life of the project, and ownership is
transferred to the KMA at the end of the partnership. COMMENT:
An EFW system is typically dependent on a specific volume of
waste and in some cases, certain types of waste to maintain
commodity output. Although Mr. Anku confirmed Ghana would not
import waste for fuel necessary to operate an EFW facility, it
will be interesting to talk trash with project scientists,
plant operators and Ghanaian Customs officials to learn if
illicit trafficking and dumping of undesirable waste material
is occurring in and around Ghana.
END COMMENT.
4. For further discussion contact Geoffrey Hunt at +233-21-
741- 417 or Patience Charway at +233-21-741-839.
TEITELBAUM