OLA – Caribbean
Cuba - Project nº 8
Biogas Capture and Renewable Energy Production
at the New Dump in Guanabacoa
Source: DPSC
ƒ PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND CURRENT
SITUATION
The dump currently in exploitation at Guanabacoa, in
eastern Havana, is depleting and in poorest sanitary
conditions. Therefore, we are engaged in the
construction of a new dump, in order to replace the
older one.
The new household solid refuse dump will have a sanitary
filling system and comprises an approximately 18 ha area
adjacent to the former Santa Clara (Roberto Flores)
quarry that is located on a rock bed. The field is part of a
dissected plain with dark carbonated soils that will be
necessarily disturbed. Such an area allows a 16-year
useful exploitation time, the refuse to be dumped is 316.6
metric tonnes/day – the estimate having been done for
traditional sanitary filling techniques. The application of
the new compacting and recycling techniques may
prolong dump use over time.
Dump implementation will build on modern techniques
that can be adapted to our actual conditions and
possibilities. The dump must rank in the Controlled
Dump category.
As part of all this, the construction of a treatment plant
for the gas (Biogas) emanating from dumps has been
planned.
Biogas or dump gas forms in a natural way during the
decomposition process of the organic refuse contained in
garbage. Its methane content, a highly energetic
hydrocarbon, makes biogas be appraised as thermal or
electric energy.
Urban solid refuse dumps bear important social, visual
and environmental impacts, such as the generation of
biogas arising from organic matter decomposition in
anaerobic conditions. Treatment intended to neutralise
its harmful effect not only provides a solution to
environment protection but may allow to produce fuel as
well.
The new dump to the East will contain approximately 300
daily tonnes from Eastern Havana, Regla, Guanabacoa,
San Miguel Municipalities. That makes us anticipate that
the dump energetic recovery will be economically viable.
Experiences and studies evidence that methane
proportion will be over 50%, the other biogas
components being Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Oxygen
and other components to a lesser extent.
ƒ EXECUTING UNIT AND INSTITUTIONAL
FRAMEWORK
The executing unit of this project will be the Provincial
Hygiene Financed Unit, with the participation of the
Ministry of the Basic Industry (MINBAS).
Since these projects are implemented through financial
investments closely involved in environmental activities
and technology transfer, project development work will
be undertaken with direct participation of the Ministry
for Economic Collaboration and Foreign Investment
(MINVEC), the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Environment (CITMA), and those institutions directly
involved in the projects.
MINVEC is participating as the Public Authority in charge
of Co-ordinating International Co-operation and its
Implementation (APCCI), while CITMA is acting as the
steering organ for those activities concerning Science,
Technology and Environment.
ƒ PRIORITY
This project is highly prioritised. This is evidenced by the
need to collect biogas from the New Dump at
Guanabacoa, thus preventing highly polluting gases from
passing to the atmosphere and contributing to the
greenhouse effect worldwide. The Provincial Direction of
Community Services is the organ in charge of its control,
treatment and coincides in the priority this type of
project must be accorded.
Likewise, since the Cuban Government fosters any
initiative aiming at better use of renewable resources, the
programme is supported by the utmost national
authorities.
Finally, from the environmental viewpoint, these
investments fall under CITMA´s priorities, as they
generate important GHG emission diminution and fossil
fuel use savings.
ƒ CHARACTERISTICS OF INVESTMENT
The proposed investment aims at extracting and
transporting biogas to a treatment plant. This is usually
done through a network of pits or trenches – depending
on dump morphology – that cover the overall dump
OPET OLA - Caribbean
surface and capture the gas in order to convey it later to Executing Entity Provincial Hygiene Financed Unit
a main collector through a piping network equipped with
regulating valves. From the collector, the gas passes to its Parameters of Investment
final treatment so as to be used as an electricity and heat
Total Investment US$ 914,527.0
energy source. It is anticipated that 9,000 MWh/year will
be exported to the Cuban Electricity Enterprise, with a Work Schedule
$60/MWh electricity tariff. - Months -18 % 100
There is an additional cost-effectiveness component from Useful Working Life years 12
CEC commercialisation. Incomes
As an additional economic benefit, this project will Electricity Generation GWh/year 9,4
generate foreign currency savings at the national level by
Electricity Tariff US$/MWh 60
reducing imports of fossil fuel currently used for
Incomes from Electricity Sales US$/year 564, 000
electricity generation.
O&M Cost
Estimated Annual Cost US$/year 272, 000
ƒ FINANCING SOURCES AND POTENTIAL Profit1/year without CEC US$/year 540, 000
PARTNERS
GHG Parameters
Funding needed to complete both the initial investments
Estimated Equivalent CO2 CO2
from the initial donation by “Bread to the World” and 7,600
Reduction tonnes/year
the later acquisition of conversion kits and operation
Estimated Equivalent CO2
items came from the Group IT´s profits and other credits CO2
Reduction on the basis of 176, 000
granted by MITRANS (revised). tonnes/year
CH4 non-emissions
US$/ CO2
Most items and technological equipment have been CEC Reference Value 5.0
tonne
acquired through MITRANS´s General Importing
Enterprise of Transport (EIGT). During the development CEC Financial Contribution pa. US$/year 918, 000
of TRANS ECO, many international and national firms Profit1/year with CEC US$/year 1, 458, 000
and enterprises have shown their interest in negotiating.
In the national setting, the transport enterprise of the Total Itemised Investment
Ministry of the Siderurgical and Mechanical Industry Materials Units Amount US$
(SIME) is interested in taking on part of the vehicle- Geotextile Layer m2
130, 000 390,000
conversion and resale services
Hydraulic Pipe Line PVC ø 100 m 845 2,450
Sanitary Pipe Line PVC ø 200 m 940 3,666
SIME is the organ responsible for acquiring and
developing equipment for Cuban enterprises; many pieces Sanitary Pipe Line PVC ø 150 m 3,495 11,359
of equipment developed by SIME are integrated with Sanitary Pipe Line PVC ø 100 m 480 1,440
components produced abroad, so its potential relation Hofo ø 150 m 403 1,612
with TRANS ECO is interesting. Hofo ø 100 m 2,705 1,500
Submersible Pumps U 6 1,500
ƒ ECONOMIC PARAMETERS & FUNDING Regulating and Metering Plant U 1 1, 500’0.00
RESOURCES
Pumping Plant U 1 30, 000.00
Surplus Gas Incinerating Torch U 1 6, 000.00
This project is undertaken due to the need of controlling
Power Generating Set U 3 300,000.00
those gases that are harmful to people’s life, their
financing being dependent on entities that wish to Transformers U 3 150, 000.00
cooperate with this type of investment in order to TOTAL 914,527.00
improve the environment. Cost-Efficiency Indicators
This project type traditionally tends to be funded by i) Refunding Time without CEC years 1.69
international financing from international organisations Refunding Time with CEC years 59
and governmental credits, ii) international financing from IRR without CEC % 1
donations whose goal would be to improve the
IRR with CEC % 100
population’s living conditions and environment
protection.
ƒ CONTACT
Executive Contact : Odalys García Fonseca
National currency funding can be provided by the Provincial Administration Council: Provincial Direction of
Provincial Direction of Community Services. Community Services
The table below summarises the main economic Address : Calle 30 No 2110 entre 21 y 23. Playa Ciudad
parameters of the project: Habana
Tel : (537) 202 34 82 y/o 202 64 28
E-mail : Odalys@sc.ch.gov.cu

OPET OLA - Caribbean