Kinshasa’s Waste and Power
Kinshasa’s Waste and Power
October 2023
Nigeria, Africa
BucSha/Hergunyu Group
Sustainable Energy
On Hold
The Challenge:
Kinshasa faces a severe municipal solid waste (MSW) crisis, with 90,000 tons of waste generated daily but only 20,000 tons collected. Uncontrolled dumpsites contribute to environmental degradation, flooding, and public health risks. Additionally, the city struggles with chronic power shortages, with only 21% of the population having access to electricity and businesses citing electricity as a major constraint to economic growth. Current waste management efforts, including partnerships for plastic recycling, remain insufficient. Without intervention, Kinshasa risks worsening pollution, disease spread, and economic losses projected at $4.7 billion by 2060.
Our Solution:
To address these interlinked crises, we together with Bucsha proposed an integrated waste management and waste-to-energy (W2E) solution using gasification technology. This approach includes:
- Waste Collection & Recycling: Expanding partnerships with private firms for plastic, paper, metal, and glass recycling.
- Gasification for Organic Waste: Converting non-recyclable organic waste into syngas, a renewable energy source.
- Energy Generation: Utilizing syngas for electricity production, reducing methane emissions by 30% compared to landfilling.
- Cost Mitigation Strategies: Implementing public-private partnerships (PPPs), international funding initiatives, and phased investment strategies to finance infrastructure.
- Community Engagement & Governance: Launching awareness campaigns, waste separation initiatives, and regulatory frameworks to ensure long-term success.
The Outcome:
While the full buildout has yet to be realized, our efforts laid the foundation and legal framework for securing the funding and advancing the modernization of the gasification infrastructure.
Our proposal not only resolves Kinshasa’s immediate waste crisis but also establishes a sustainable, scalable model for waste management and energy generation in Africa.
- Reduce landfill dependency, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating flooding risks.
- Generate clean energy, improving electricity access and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Create economic opportunities, attracting investment in waste management and power generation.
- Improve public health, reducing disease outbreaks and enhancing living conditions.
