Morocco and Egypt lead Africa's waste-to-energy expansion

Morocco and Egypt are emerging as leaders in Africa's growing waste-to-energy sector. A recent report indicates the global biomass electricity market is projected to reach $171.02 billion by 2031, driven by the increasing utilization of agricultural and industrial waste.

In Morocco, the ‘Reefect Africa’ project aims to link energy, water, and food security through biomass gasification technology. A pilot unit in Sidi Mokhtar is currently using olive pits, pomace, and branches to produce thermal energy and biochar for fertilizer, aiming to replace fossil fuels and reduce carbon footprints. Additionally, a major project in Casablanca has secured engineering and construction contracts through a consortium including companies like Boutique and Canadivia Innova.

Egypt is advancing its biofuel strategy with a goal to increase primary energy production from 2,001 kilotons in 2023-2024 to 5,745 thousand tons by 2040. The country has implemented specific feed-in tariffs for electricity generated from municipal solid waste and biogas. The Abu Rawash plant is a key facility, processing 1,200 tons daily to generate 30 megawatt-hours.

South Africa also shows progress through legislative updates, including the 2021 Electricity Regulation Act and a 2020 waste management strategy that encourages anaerobic digestion over landfilling. However, environmental discussions persist regarding the use of incineration versus digestion to avoid incentivizing waste production.