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Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
THE firm constructing the €304 million state-of-the-art waste to energy plant at Pomona dumpsite in Harare, Geo-Pomona Waste Management (Private) Limited, has brought in Bitumen World to construct internal roads with works already underway.
The firm has also awarded tenders to local companies for borehole drilling, with works also ongoing. Local companies are preferred when contract work is required.
Geo-Pomona is a subsidiary of Geogenix BV, an internationally accredited firm that deals in garbage.
This week, Bitumen World trucks and graders were clearing the surface while front-end loaders were clearing refuse on the section that was being used for roads.
A borehole was being drilled on the other section while two graders and caterpillars were shaping the roads where garbage had been cleared.
Geo-Pomona country representative Mr Delish Nguwaya on Tuesday said they involved local partners to carry out internal works on water and roads provision.
“Bitumen World has since moved on site and work is currently underway. Our engineers are on the ground making frantic efforts to ensure our work plans or targets which are to make Harare a better place, are met. We have also engaged drilling companies like Prolific Boreholes who are already on site.”
Geo-Pomona has since outlined its roadmap which indicates that within the first two months, it will start with encircling the Pomona landfill.
The company said the encapsulation of all existing waste will be completed within the first 20 months.
The Pomona dumpsite waste-to-energy project was recently approved by Cabinet and is expected to generate up to 22MW of electricity, a modest power station, but even fairly small stations can sell to the grid.
Apart from electricity generation, the project is also expected to generate at least 300 jobs, boost economic growth with the investor already exploring other investments in the country.
Before the coming in of the investor, managing waste at Pomona had given Harare City Council challenges over the years.
Fire outbreaks had also become the order of the day at the dumpsite, with the last fire outbreak at the site lasting about 16 days, putting the health of residents at risk.
Online Reporter