Tunisia’s Household Waste: A Prime Opportunity for Energy Production
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Overview
Majdi Frihi, Project Manager at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN‑Habitat), disclosed that household waste in Tunisia accounts for more than 60 % of the country’s total waste stream, with over half of it being organic. He argues that this composition creates an ideal environment for investing in waste valorisation and converting it into a reliable source of electricity.
Massive Methane Reserves Ready for Conversion
During a live interview on Radio Nationale, Frihi explained that Tunisia operates 10 controlled landfills that emit large volumes of methane as organic waste decomposes. This methane can be captured and transformed into electrical power.
Pilot Project at Oued Laâya (Sousse Governorate)
- Location: Oued Laâya landfill, Sousse.
- Goal: Valorise waste by harvesting landfill methane.
- Results to date:
- 87 000 kW injected into the national grid of the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company (STEG).
- The output was achieved by using only 1 % of the methane present in the landfill.
The success of this pilot demonstrates that waste‑to‑energy projects are technically and economically feasible in Tunisia.
Call for Youth and Private‑Sector Investment
Frihi urged young entrepreneurs and private investors to seize the opportunity presented by the 10 controlled landfills, especially sites like Borj Chakir, which hold substantial methane reserves.
- How to get involved:
- Contact the National Waste Management Agency and the National Energy Control Agency (and other relevant bodies).
- Submit project proposals for installing waste‑valorisation units at the landfills.
- Benefit from STEG’s guaranteed feed‑in tariff for each kilowatt produced, designed to stimulate private investment.
Importance of Source Separation
Frihi also highlighted that source‑level selective sorting (i.e., separating waste at the household) is crucial to streamline the valorisation process.
- Beyond organics: The initiative also targets plastics and other recyclable materials.
- Food‑waste pilot: On the island of Djerba, a UN‑DP (United Nations Development Programme) pilot is converting hotel kitchen leftovers into electricity.
Contextual Figures
- Annual household waste generation: > 2.8 million tonnes.
- Growth rate: 2–3 % per year (according to waste‑valorisation expert Hamdi Chabaane).
These numbers underline the urgency of developing sustainable waste‑to‑energy solutions.
Further Reading
- Importation of European Waste: Tunisia’s Infrastructure Tested – Read the full article on La Presse
Keywords: Tunisia, household waste, methane, waste‑to‑energy, renewable electricity, UN‑Habitat, STEG, private investment, source separation, landfill gas, sustainable development.
