NIGERIA: Lagos company Midori Environmental Solutions harnesses the power of waste

Record ID: 236306

  • Title: NIGERIA: Lagos company Midori Environmental Solutions harnesses the power of waste
  • Date: 12th February 2014
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HOUSES LIGHT BULB GENERATOR BOARD READING: "CHARGE YOUR PHONE HERE - 70 NAIRA - PLEASE NO CREDIT BEFORE SERVICE" VARIOUS OF SIGN-POST READING: "ENERGY GENERATION FROM WASTE PROJECT" WORKERS ROLLING A DRUM VARIOUS OF WORKERS OPENING THE DRUM FILLED WITH WASTE FRUIT, GRASS AND FISH WASTE VARIOUS OF WORKERS POURING WASTE INTO THE BIO-DIGESTER VARIOUS OF BIO-DIGESTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) OLUMIDE THOMPSON, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, MIDORI ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS SAYING: "The idea of what we're doing here is to show them how they can independently develop themselves, develop the environment which they are in and also provide a means of growing economically. With the power they can get here for instance, they can use it for grinding their peppers, they can use it for creating small SMEs around, in other words, barbing salons and the likes so whatever benefit they get from the plant is directly for the community." VARIOUS OF POWER LINES VARIOUS OF MARKET ACTIVITY MARKET WOMEN LOOKING ON CHILD PLAYING DRUM FOR ROASTING FISH (SOUNDBITE) (Yoruba) SALINA KAREEM, COMMUNITY LEADER, EBUTE-LEKKI, SAYING: "When we saw it, we were very happy and we thank God for those people that did it for us. We are happy because we know this will bring lots of development into our community, Ebute-Lekki. Those things we have been requesting for, this is a part of it and we are very happy." VARIOUS OF WORKER AT BIO-DIGESTER STATION CONNECTING PIPES (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANICHE PHIL-EBOSIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIDORI SOLUTIONS SAYING: "We have a lot of requests, most of the ladies here they cook, they make food and everybody wants to switch. It is a slow transition because they are not so buoyant financially, we have to find a way to get either sponsors to do this or ask them to pay installmentally." VARIOUS OF MAN WALKING/WOMAN PREPARING HERBAL DRINK VARIOUS OF POT ON THE FIRE VARIOUS OF WOMAN PREPARING HERBAL DRINK VARIOUS OF BOTTLES FILLED WITH HERBAL DRINKS VARIOUS OF WOMAN POURING HERBAL DRINK INTO BOTTLES (SOUNDBITE) (Yoruba) TOYIN OGUNMAHUN, TRADER SAYING: "Before, when we were using charcoal, our pot used to get dirty, we would buy soap to wash it but now there is nothing like that, when we use biogas, our pot is less dirty." VARIOUS OF MEN DRINKING HERBAL DRINK (SOUNDBITE) (English) TUNDE JAIYEOLA, TRADER SAYING: "When she is using firewood, I used to come here but I did not like it, but now she's using the biogas, I still come here and the taste of the agbo (herbal drink) is not changed, everything is okay so that is it." VARIOUS OF WOMEN WALKING PAST
  • Embargoed: 27th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Business,Environment,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA1KKH206G9NWEMAMPF2B8TB4TJ
  • Story Text: A notoriously unreliable, erratic electricity supply and the high cost of gas and kerosene is endemic in many parts of Nigeria.
    In a community on Lagos Island in the country's commercial capital, residents have not had power for two years.
    Those who can afford it, run petrol and diesel powered generators in their homes and small businesses.
    The deteriorating situation has led to the creation of Midori Environmental Solutions, a waste to energy project, partly funded by the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) and a local non-governmental organisation involved in developing rural communities.
    They generate electricity from waste. Anything from discarded fruits, to grass and left over fish - once ingredients for a menacing waste problem for the community, can now be a source of power.
    Members of the community collect the waste for processing at a plant situated near the local market.
    The waste is ground together to produce a mixture that is then poured into a bio-digester to produce the gas.
    Olumide Thompson, chief operating officer for Midori Environmental Solutions said the initiative has had a significant impact on the community, especially for those who run small businesses.
    "The idea of what we're doing here is to show them how they can independently develop themselves, develop the environment which they are in and also provide a means of growing economically. With the power they can get here for instance, they can use it for grinding their peppers, they can use it for creating small SMEs around, in other words, barbing salons and the likes so whatever benefit they get from the plant is directly for the community," he said.
    Power lines which have been dormant for the last two years in Ebute-Lekki will be transformed to carry electricity powered by Midori through the community.
    Residents of Ebute-Lekki said they are relieved to have a new source of electricity.
    "When we saw it, we were very happy and we thank God for those people that did it for us. We are happy because we know this will bring lots of development into our community, Ebute-Lekki. Those things we have been requesting for, this is a part of it and we are very happy," said Ebute-Lekki community leader, Salina Kareem.
    With 1,400 kilograms of waste collected weekly, the biogas plant is expected to generate 10,000 KVA worth of power which will can service the fishing population of about 1000.
    Over 10 million naira (62,893 US dollars) has been invested into the project, mostly by UNDP.
    Midori is currently running the project in four other communities and has been receiving requests from companies to set up similar projects for their businesses.
    They recently set up a biogas plant at a popular fruit market in Lagos. That power is helping traders like this food trader with cooking gas.
    "We have a lot of requests, most of the ladies here they cook, they make food and everybody wants to switch. It is a slow transition because they are not so buoyant financially, we have to find a way to get either sponsors to do this or ask them to pay installmentally," said Anichie Phil-Ebosie, executive director, Midori Environmental Solutions.
    Most of the food stalls in the fruit market use charcoal and firewood as it a lot cheaper to buy, but is harmful to their health and the environment.
    Toyin Ogunmahun has been selling drinks at the market for the last five years.
    She recently switched to biogas and now pays 600 naira (about 4 US dollars) per week to Midori Solutions for the supply of cooking gas to her shop.
    "Before, when we were using charcoal, our pot used to get dirty, we would buy soap to wash it but now there is nothing like that, when we use biogas, our pot is less dirty," she said.
    Her customers have even commented on the change in flavour of Ogunmahun's drinks.
    "When she is using firewood, I used to come here but I did not like it, but now she's using the biogas, I still come here and the taste of the agbo (herbal drink) is not changed, everything is okay so that is it," said, Tunde Jaiyeola.
    Midori Solutions says they want to build more waste generation sites as an alternative to the epileptic power supply in the country while also increasing their client base to over 50 percent of Nigeria's population.
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