By: Mohamed Sahr mohamedsahrpro@gmail.com
In a significant collaborative effort, Goal Sierra Leone, along with its partners, undertook a comprehensive tour on Thursday, 18th January 2024, to gain insights into the rapid transformation of its treatment plant in Kingtom, Freetown. The focus was on converting liquid waste into environmentally friendly cooking biogas.
Pious Nishimwe, the WASH and Climate Change Coordinator of Goal Sierra Leone, highlighted the plant’s co-design with the Freetown City Council, aiming to leverage existing limited space through technological enhancement. The site employs scientific and geotextile technology to convert human waste into innovative components such as cooking energy, fertilizers, and fuel.
Nishimwe emphasized that the plant currently addresses 21% of Freetown’s waste management and urged the expansion of its capacity, especially in the East-end of Freetown, considering the escalating population. He identified faecal sludge management as a major challenge, calling on the government, department partners, and private sectors to support capacity expansion and adopt the new technology for an eco-friendlier environment. Additionally, he highlighted the plant’s role in advancing the climate change agenda globally.
Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, Mayor of Freetown City Council, acknowledged the collaborative efforts since 2021, focusing on transforming Freetown through the plant. With Goal Sierra Leone’s assistance, they successfully utilized liquid waste outputs, generating fertilizers, briquettes, and fuel. Aki-Sawyer emphasized the creation of employment opportunities for the community, ensuring their active involvement in this innovative initiative.
Mohammad Al-Bataynah, Country Lead of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), addressed the environmental challenges in Freetown, where 83% of the population still relies on charcoal for cooking. UNCDF is committed to addressing deforestation and climate change through funding liquid waste and faecal sludge initiatives. Al-Bataynah highlighted UNCDF’s partnership with Freetown City Council, aligning with efforts to collaborate with the private sector for sustainable development, in line with the 2030 Agenda and the Doha Programme of Action.
Al-Bataynah assured continued commitment to creating an enabling environment for sustainable development, particularly focusing on water access in local communities and climate adaptation.
Momodu Conteh, a resident and plant operator at the waste treatment plant, expressed enthusiasm about the knowledge gained in waste management operations, emphasizing his intent to share this knowledge with others when necessary.