According to local sources, a consortium formed by 4R Energy Company, LEM Ethiopia, a non-governmental environment-focused organization, and the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) have achieved commercial closure for the waste-to-energy PPP project in the capital of Ethiopia.

The project aims to reduce carbon emission from Addis Ababa's sewage waste water treatment plants and cut the toxic nutrients being washed into the rivers from the currently open landfill sewage located in Akaki, Addis Ababa.

Mogues Worku, LEM Ethiopia Executive Director, stated:

We have been conducting research with 4R Energy for the past four years. It will be the first in Africa and has a great impact in cutting greenhouse gases being evaporated from the landfill sludge to the atmosphere at the moment.

4R Energy will invest a total of US$18.1 million to develop the project. LEM Ethiopia will do the environmental monitoring, impact assessment of the project and provides guidance to 4R Energy and AAWSA will provide with the land for the project.

Benjamin G. Sishuh, CEO of 4R Energy, commented:

In addition, the fuel we are going to produce from the sewage will significantly cut the amount of hard currency Ethiopia spend to import fossil fuel every year. After extracting the bio-gas we fill the liquefied petroleum grade gas into cylinders and distribute to the public with affordable prices.

Currently AAWSA is modernizing Addis Ababa's sewage line and the two waste water treatment plants in Akaki-Kaliti. Funding for those projects have been provided by the World Bank and Ethiopian government.