JOBURG – Johannesburg’s waste could in future solve the city’s power troubles according to the the City of Johannesburg.
Member of the mayoral committee for environment, infrastructure and service, councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe said the city council’s pursuit for alternative energy sources was gathering pace. She said five landfills that Pikitup managed, would generate 19 megawatts of electricity by 2016, enough to power 16 500 homes.
Mfikoe said the energy would be generated from methane gas and carbon dioxide extracted from landfill waste. In 2005 the city council identified five landfills as potential sites to implement a landfill gas-to-energy Clean Development Mechanism project. The sites are Robinson Deep in Turffontein, Marie Louise in Roodepoort, Goudkoppies in Devland, Linbro Park near Alexandra and Ennerdale in Lawley.
“This fits well into Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s recent announcement that the provincial government was investigating alternative energy sources, including solar power, to alleviate pressure on the electricity grid,” she said.
Makhura announced that the provincial government would look to provide 300 megawatts of energy by 2016 through alternative energy sources.
“Through its implementation, the city would help South Africa meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments while generating revenue through the sale of certified emission reductions and sale of electricity generated from the project,” said Mfikoe.
