The Ministry of Local Administration underlined that the al-Akidar landfill development project in northern Jordan is designed to safeguard groundwater by preventing the seepage of leachate while utilizing landfill gases for energy production.Project Manager Farah Dawoud told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the project, launched earlier this year, includes multiple phases, such as designing and constructing wastewater treatment ponds, establishing a sanitary landfill, closing and rehabilitating the old landfill, and upgrading existing emergency cells. Additionally, the project entails building supporting infrastructure and providing technical support services.Dawoud highlighted that the project is funded through a European Commission agreement signed in 2017, under which the European Union pledged up to €100 million for solid waste management initiatives aligned with Jordan’s national strategy for municipal waste management. The French Development Agency was also authorized to manage €53.173 million on behalf of the Ministry of Local Administration. In 2018, the agency signed an agreement with the Jordanian government to support the implementation of the national solid waste management strategy in the northern and central regions.She noted that the project tender was awarded on November 27 to a consortium comprising Mesogeos Contracting Commercial Real Estate S.A. and Masar United Contracting Company, with a total contract value of €12,481,916 and JD19,534,240. The contract was signed, and the site was handed over to the contractor on December 29, 2024. The project commenced on January 19 and is scheduled for completion within 26 months.Dawoud explained that the project will ensure environmentally sound waste treatment through engineered landfill cells designed to prevent leachate infiltration into groundwater. These cells are also equipped with a methane gas collection system to mitigate fire hazards caused by gas accumulation. Instead of being released into the atmosphere, the collected methane will be harnessed for energy production, further enhancing environmental sustainability.Minister of Government Communication and Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani stated following a recent cabinet session that the government has approved several key projects, including the Al-Akidir landfill development initiative, valued at approximately JD30 million.He emphasized that the project, which involves establishing a state-of-the-art landfill cell at the al-Akidar the country’s second-largest landfill after al-Ghabawi will serve 38 municipalities in northern Jordan. The initiative is part of the broader solid waste management strategy aimed at improving waste disposal infrastructure and environmental protection. (ICE AMMAN)

Fonte notizia: petra news