Zoomlion signs waste management deals in 3 countries

Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), a leading waste management company under the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), has signed Waste Management and Processing Concession Agreements with three major cities in Africa to help them manage waste more efficiently.

The cities are the commercial capital of neighbouring Nigeria, Lagos; the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kinshasa, and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

The major breakthroughs are part of continuous and significant strides in expanding the footprint of the Ghanaian conglomerate in Africa.

The Executive Chairman of JGC, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, signed the agreement with Lagos State last  Monday, while his representative, Daniel Amuyaw Addo, signed on behalf of ZGL with Kinshasa and Addis Ababa.

Zoomlion Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Zoomlion, signed a Waste Management and Processing Concession Agreement with the Lagos State Government last Thursday, while ZGL went on to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Kinshasa and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, solidifying its commitment to sustainable waste management and environmental conservation.

Lagos

This Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative aims to transform Lagos State's waste management landscape by creating about 5,000 jobs.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Mr Agyepong formalised the partnership at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja, Nigeria.

This collaboration will lead to the development of two pivotal facilities: a material recovery plant and a waste recycling plant.

The installations will be crucial in integrating Lagos into a modern and sustainable waste management framework.

Lagos State currently generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily.

Key components of the agreement include the construction of Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) at the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ketu and Solous III Dumpsite in Igando.

The TLS at Olusosun will divert 2,500 tonnes of waste daily to a new Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Ikorodu, while the TLS at Solous III will divert 1,500 tonnes daily to a new MRF in Badagry.

Additionally, self-tipping tricycles will be deployed to enhance waste collection in hard-to-reach areas across the metropolis. All projects are slated for completion within 18 months.

Governor Sanwo-Olu hailed the agreement as a "turning point" in the state's waste management journey, emphasising that it would create over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and enhance the operations of PSP waste operators.

"Today, we have witnessed the official commencement of a mutually beneficial relationship between a forward-looking private company and a committed public sector," he said.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources of Lagos State, Tokunbo Wahab, described the project as a major milestone, marking the state's transition to a circular waste economy.

"We can now begin to generate wealth from what we previously discarded," he added.

Kinshasa, DRC

On the same day, Zoomlion signed another MoU with the City of Kinshasa to collaborate on a project focused on the collection, transportation, recovery and conversion of municipal and other forms of waste into valuable products.

The partnership is expected to generate approximately 5,000 jobs in Kinshasa's waste management value chain.

The Provincial Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development for Kinshasa, Léon Mulumba Mwana Nshiya, initialled on behalf of the City of Kinshasa.

"This agreement is a symbol of our strong will and unwavering commitment to build a cleaner, greener Kinshasa," Mr Nshiya stated.

The Jospong delegation was led by Mr Daniel Amuyaw Addo, who expressed great enthusiasm about the partnership.

“This signing ceremony reaffirms Jospong’s dedication to providing innovative and integrated waste management solutions to Kinshasa. We are grateful to all stakeholders who contributed to defining the scope of this strategic partnership,” he noted.

Mr Addo presented a token of appreciation to the Governor of Kinshasa, Daniel Bumba Lubaki, as a gesture of goodwill.

The Governor emphasised the continental importance of the project, stating, “I strongly believe this project will not only improve the environmental well-being of Kinshasa but will stand as a model to project the name of Africa on the global map.”

Addis Ababa

Furthermore, the waste management giant signed an MoU with the Addis Ababa City Council last Thursday to establish an Integrated Waste Management Infrastructure in the Ethiopian capital.

The agreement will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of existing waste management facilities to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable environment for Addis Ababa.

Under the MoU, Zoomlion will invest in the development, construction and operation of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for the purpose of recovering, sorting and recycling materials extracted from various waste streams, set up Compact/Mobile Transfer Loading Stations for efficient transfer and management of waste within designated areas.

In return, ZGL would be granted the exclusive right to manage, operate and maintain the established projects for a defined period.

Upon completion, the integrated waste management facility will not only create around 5,000 new jobs and improve sanitation standards but also contribute significantly to Ethiopia's broader environmental conservation goals.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, representatives from both parties underscored the importance of the partnership in addressing urban waste challenges.

The Deputy Mayor and General Manager of Addis Ababa City, Wendimu Seta, an engineer, explained that the partnership represented a major milestone towards a cleaner and more sustainable Addis Ababa.

He stated that with Jospong Group’s expertise and dedication, the city could look forward to a more efficient and environmentally friendly waste management system.

The parties indicated that further details on the implementation timeline and specific projects under the MoU would be unveiled soon.