Harare Cancels US$134m Waste-to-Energy Project

Harare City Council (HCC) has terminated a memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with Dutch company Integrated Energy BV (IEBV) in May for the construction of a US$134 million waste-to-energy incinerator at the Pomona dumpsite on the outskirts of Harare after the firm demanded an upfront payment running into millions of dollars, it has emerged.

This is despite the fact that IEBV had indicated it had the capacity to raise the full amount required for the construction of the incinerator on a 30-year build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement.

It also emerged that the councillors were worried about the company’s weak profile after their background checks, which raised doubts about its capacity to undertake a project of that magnitude.