By Nneka Nwogwugwu
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), in collaboration with Tanzania Vice President’s Office (Environment), is implementing a project called “Promotion of Waste to Energy (WtE) Applications in Agro-Industries of Tanzania”.
The project is funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) along with their stakeholders from government institutions and ministries.
The aim is to support Mafia Island to produce electricity using alternative power sources. It will be able to produce up to 1,400KW. It is implemented in line with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s stance on measures to mitigate environmental pollution and promote business and economic development on the island.
In an interview with ‘Daily News’, UNIDO National Project Coordinator for Energy and Environment Robert Washija said the project would enable Mafia Island, which is situated in the Indian Ocean, to use green sources of power and protect the environment for current and future generations.
“UNIDO is supporting Kisiwani Farming Limited to intensify its use of residues from coconut oil plantations to generate electricity through modular thermal gasification and boost the island’s power supply system,” he said.
He explained that the company owned 2,700 plantation hectares and Mafia Island had already started using power from this source and all that was needed was financial and expert support so that it could produce electricity to its full capacity and get rid of diesel generators which had adverse effects on the environment.
Other stakeholders from public and private sectors joining UNIDO in this regard include the Ministry on Energy (MoE), Costech, Rural Energy Agency (REA), Tanesco and Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) – all of which are part of the Project Steering Committee (PSC).
This project aims at promoting the use of waste to energy technologies, more specifically the application of biomass and biogas technologies in agro-industries. It was selected due to its rapid scaling up and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potential. This is in line with a GEF-5 climate change focal area strategic programme that promotes investment in rural energy technologies. On October 21, 2021 UNIDO with PSC members visited Mafia Island.
