Zambia’s Ambassador to France Her Excellency Dr. Christine Kaseba Sata has sought partnership with a French based waste recycling company to start operations in Zambia of producing renewable energy by recycling waste.
Veolia produces 65,000 megawatts of electricity after incinerating 130,000 tonnes of waste materials per year.
During a tour of Somoval waste to energy recycling plant in Monthyon, France, Dr Kaseba asked Veolia to expand its activities to Zambia as the country’s landfill which is underutilised has great potential of producing energy through waste management and recycling.
Dr Kaseba said the country is interested to forge mutual and beneficial cooperation with Veolia to help in recycling of waste, a resource that is now considered wealthy and useful in the production of renewable energy.
“The country is interested in partnering with Veolia to realise a circular economy and fulfil the agenda of greening the economy”, she said
Dr Kaseba further noted the need for value addition of waste materials in Zambia by producing energy which will also cushion the electricity deficit the country is currently experiencing.
“Government is coming up with a strategy through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment on how different players and stakeholders can be brought on board so that we effectively implement waste management and recycling with a goal of producing energy and step wise value addition ” said Dr Kaseba
Dr Kaseba further asked the company what benchmarks Zambia should meet in order to set up a base in the country.
In response Veolia Technical Director of Industrial Units Mr. Gwenaël Le Fournis said strengthened legal framework which impedes illegal dumping of waste, and a clear business policy and strategy was key for a successful implementation of a waste to energy project.
And Veolia Senior Advisor for Development and FDIs relations Lilia Rulle said the company is ready and looking forward to collaborating and supporting Zambia by leveraging their know-how and technical solutions to undertake the project.
This is contained in a statement issued by Naomi Ng’andu Mweemba First Secretary Press Zambian Embassy Paris.
