The solid waste at the Malhampsene dump, in Matola municipality, Maputo province, will be used to generate electricity, by using the methane gas produced by the decomposition of the waste.

This is a project of the Municipal Council of the City of Matola (CMCM), which aims to reduce environmental pollution and stimulate the use of renewable energy sources.

To this end, the city has recently launched a tender to hire a company that will materialize the project.

Methane gas is produced by the decomposition of organic material such as fruit, animal remains, food, manure, leaves, among others. By undergoing degradation by bacteria the waste generates biogas that can be used to produce electricity, in addition to reducing the environmental damage caused by the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Biogas is an easily obtainable, renewable and inexhaustible fuel that allows the reuse of solid waste. According to Florencia Manjate, councilor for Salubrity, Environment, Parks, Gardens and Cemeteries at CMCM, cited by Noticias, the problem of energy demand and waste management can be solved from a single source through this initiative.

He added that the municipality is experiencing a rapid increase in solid waste production, coupled with population growth.

As an example, the Malhampsene dump receives per day about 1700 tons of waste, collected in different neighborhoods of the city such as Fomento, Infulene, Lingamo, Ndlavela T3, Zona Verde, among others.

"It is possible to recycle the organic material, produce the biogas, and generate energy that can be used for household lighting or sold to companies. We will work in coordination with Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM)," he said.