Buffalo City Metro has welcomed German delegates who have invested R30m in the East Bank wastewater treatment works in East London.
The official launch was on Tuesday with the unveiling of the East Bank Wastewater Treatment Works Solar, Biogas and Water Re-Use Project.
Mayor Princess Faku welcomed the delegation and said the German government reflected the agenda to drive economic growth and transformation.
The city is committed to working closely with the international community to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development.
She said the treatment works was an activated sludge treatment facility, originally commissioned in 1984 to replace the raw sewage marine discharge at Nahoon, and served multiple residential areas.
Lord mayor of the City of Oldenburg, Jürgen Krogmann, said the climate change partnership between the German city and Buffalo City had existed since 2013 and they had implemented different projects.
This included an energy-efficient administration building and an educational campaign to protect drinking water in East London.
“Our latest project is the energy-efficient upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant East Bank.
“It officially started last year and we received funding from the German Federal ministry for economic co-operation and development.
“By using renewable energies and new technologies, we want to modernise the treatment works,” he said.
Krogmann said their focus was on the installation of a ground-mounted photovoltaic system, the development of a waste-to-energy concept for waste sludge use, and staff training.
Lower Saxony international affairs and sports minister Daniela Behrens said the partnership was forged in 1995 with the Eastern Cape.
“My job is to bring projects to the partnership that are between the local authorities, sports and the police.
“Both countries need to have relations because we struggle with the same challenges, with climate change, to bring safety and security to people.
“It is good that we work together and bring ideas and learn from each other,” she said.
Border-Kei Chamber of Business executive director Lizelle Maurice emphasised the importance of the partnership between the metro and Germany.
“Any investment is important because it creates jobs.
“If you look at the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, eradication of hunger and creation of opportunities, it all speaks to that.
“The partnership with the Germans is very valuable and it is much needed. We continue to look forward to the growth,” she said.
Faku said they were positioning Buffalo City to increase the pace of improving social, economic and environmental sustainability outcomes.
“We appreciate your co-operation aimed at helping us overcome the persistent development challenges, particularly in the areas of environment, energy, water and sanitation.
“This involves responding to challenges such as climate change, rapid population growth and the prudent management of natural resources.
“Equally important is your contribution to the technical support and development that enhances the city’s competitiveness,” she said.
Faku said the project involved building a pilot plant at the East Bank Wastewater Treatment Works that would demonstrate three key initiatives:
• The pilot plant will treat sewage water to produce clean water suitable for industrial or agricultural use. This will help the municipality reduce water demand, conserve water from our dams, and enhance Buffalo City's water security.
The pilot will use innovative technologies from Germany, specifically membrane biological reactors;
• The project will also treat sewage effluent water using sand filtration technology, ensuring that final effluent meets industrial standards for agricultural use.
Additionally, it will incorporate hydroponics and aquaponics within the treatment plant to demonstrate that treated water contains nutrients beneficial for agriculture; and
• The third component of the project focuses on treating settled solids from the treatment plants to generate electricity through biogas-to-energy processes.
This will significantly reduce electricity consumption at the wastewater treatment plants, which currently accounts for up to 40% of operational costs.
She said this project aimed to build an efficient administration that provided citizens with basic services in a reliable and transparent manner.
It, along with many other strategic anchor projects, sought to position Buffalo City as a leading global city.
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