September 30, 2003
By Lucky Sindane
TWO projects to collect and resell methane gas from landfill sites are soon to be launched by Pikitup, with the help of a R2-million sponsorship from a Danish development organisation.
The City's waste management company recently announced the R2-million donation from the Danish International Development Assistance organisation (DANIDA).
Pikitup this month signed a letter of intent with the Royal Danish Embassy to harvest and resell the methane gas generated at Robinson Deep, in Turffontein, and Kya Sands, north of Randburg. "Methane gas is generated by the natural decomposition processes at the landfill sites," Pikitup said in a statement.
The Pikitup-Danish venture, through harvesting methane that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere, would help curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions and reduce global warming, the statement said.
"These sorts of projects are beneficial to both sides, meeting the challenge of global greenhouse gas reduction," said Danish ambassador Torben Brylle.
This was in line with the Kyoto Protocol, which set reduction targets for the industrialised nations and encouraged countries to work with developing nations in meeting the targets.
It was beneficial for developing countries like South Africa to lower their greenhouse gas emissions because, in terms of the Kyoto Protocol's clean development mechanism, carbon credits were issued according to the level of reduction, the statement said. These credits could then be sold to industrialised nations to help them achieve their quotas.
Developing nations were currently exempt from reduction targets because of their lower emissions of greenhouse gases.
"We are excited about the benefits of these projects and look forward to further co-operative ventures with Denmark," said Pikitup's acting managing director, Similo Dingaan.
Pikitup's director for business development, Francois van Aswegen said that the harvesting projects would benefit Pikitup financially.
"Locally, the methane gas will be sold to Joburg's gas networks and industrial customers near our landfills, while nationally a second revenue stream, in the form of carbon credits, will be sold to developed nations like Denmark," Van Aswegen said.
According to the Pikitup-Danish agreement, Denmark had the first right of refusal on any of the carbon credits generated by the projects.
The two projects, said Van Aswegen, were in line with Pikitup's long-term strategic goals for integrated and sustainable waste management. "These projects ensure we run more environmentally-friendly landfill operations and play our part to help combat global warming," he added.
"The Robinson Deep and Kya Sands projects represent a classic win-win situation not only for Pikitup, but also for Joburg and South Africa," said Van Aswegen.
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