Sierra Leone is set to construct a 30MW waste-to-energy facility to improve both waste management and energy access.
The facility to be developed by Infinitum Energy, will be set up in Freetown. It will process 365,000 tonnes of waste each year, generating approximately 236.5 GWh of electricity. This will provide power to over 3 million people through a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA).
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The project is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by 94,000 tonnes and create around 250 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs. Climate Fund Managers (CFM) will contribute US $3.1M toward the project from its EU-backed Climate Investor Two Fund, supporting early-stage development activities. Infinitum, which also has projects in Sri Lanka and is exploring opportunities in Uganda, aims to enhance waste infrastructure and energy reliability in Sierra Leone through this initiative.
“By leveraging proven technology and a robust public-private partnership model, we are addressing two critical issues facing Freetown: waste management and reliable energy access. Together, we are demonstrating what is possible when private sector innovation and government collaboration come together to pave the way for a cleaner, greener future for Sierra Leone,” said Lindsay Nagle, CEO of Infinitum Energy.
In Sierra Leone, both waste management and energy access are significant challenges, with the country facing a large volume of unmanaged urban waste alongside a major power deficit, leading to growing interest in utilizing waste-to-energy technology as a potential solution to address both issues simultaneously; particularly in the capital city, Freetown, where rapid population growth has overwhelmed existing infrastructure for waste disposal and electricity generation.
