Plans for the implementation of the Astra Solar and Waste-to-Energy Project in Zanzibar are moving forward. Recently the project’s developer, Astra, announced the successful presentation of the feasibility report of the project.
Reportedly, the company also executed documentation to secure 207 acres of land on a 33-year renewable lease. The lease will be obtained from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for Astra’s Zanzibar Clean and Renewable Energy Park project (“ZCREP”). The land package consists of 199 acres in the Kibele district for the solar PV portion of the project. Additionally, 8 acres neighbouring the solar park and around the Kibele landfill will be set aside for the waste-to-energy facility.
Astra intends to own and operate the Astra Solar and Waste-to-Energy Project in Zanzibar as an independent power producer. However, the entity will be vending the power to ZECO, Zanzibar’s state-owned utility, via a long-term power purchase agreement.
Significance of the Astra solar and Waste-to-energy plant in Zanzibar
The combined solar and waste-to-energy project will generate 50 MW of clean and renewable energy on Unguja Island. The project will further consume 300 tons daily of municipal solid waste (“MSW”) thus reducing stress on the Kibele landfill. The Kibele landfill is the island’s only dedicated receptacle for waste. Astra’s Regreen Total Waste System (www.regreentechnologies.com) will convert the MSW into valuable electrical power and marketable revenue-generating byproducts.
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A battery energy storage system component will be installed along with the solar PV plant. This will help stabilize the power supply and drastically reduce Unguja Island’s reliance on a single 100-MW submarine cable from mainland Tanzania.
Astra officials met with the president of Zanzibar, H.E. Dr Hussein Mwinyi (“H.E.”), along with officials from Zanzibar Electricity Corporation (“ZECO”); the Ministry of Water, Energy and Minerals; and the Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority.
During the meeting, Astra presented H.E. with the completed feasibility study for the project. H.E. restated his continued support for the ZCREP project and encouraged Astra and the government officials present to “start negotiations on a power purchase agreement immediately.”
