KwaZulu-Natal Correspondent

DURBAN The Ethekwini municipality is investigating opportunities to harness renewable energy from three city landfill sites in a move that could save ratepayers R80m over the next 15 years.

The project, currently being reviewed for its environmental impact, could generate sufficient power to meet the needs of 9000 houses for 30 years. It would save the 80000 tons of coal burnt annually in the provinces' power stations to supply electricity.

Municipality project manager Lindsay Strachan said the project was in line with the government's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below the 1990 levels.

SA signed the protocol during last year's World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Prototype Carbon Fund, a funding organisation established by the World Bank, approached the municipality during the summit to propose the landfill project.

Ethekwini was the first local authority in the country to be approached by the World Bank following advanced research by the University of Natal and the municipality into the development of projects for the management of landfill gas.

Strachan said landfills produced a sustainable supply of landfill gas, which could be used to generate electricity.

The council was considering a host of financing options, including developing and operating the project for three years before selling it to the private sector.

Prototype proposes the municipality harness the methane gas generated by the landfills at Bisasar Road, Mariannhill and La Mercy to convert it into electricity.

Felehetsa Environmental MD Jeremy Boswell said KwaZulu-Natal landfills generated more gas than landfills in the rest of the country.

Nov 20 2003 07:35:32:000AM Nicola Jenvey Business Day 1st Edition