Plasma Gasification, an Eco-Friendly Solution for Power Generation and MSW Treatment in Kinshasa, DR Congo

Electricity is vital for modern society, powering homes, industries, hospitals, and transportation systems. It is the backbone of our daily lives, enabling convenience, fulfilling human basic needs, and crucial for the development and improvement of socioeconomic conditions. However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a significant challenge with low electrification rates, where less than 10% of the population has access to electricity. Even the capital city, Kinshasa, with 17 million inhabitants, has only about 60% electricity access and struggles with massive municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. To address this issue, a plasma-based gasification technology is proposed as a suitable and eco-friendly solution. This technology involves treating the substantial volume of waste generated in Kinshasa and rural areas to increase power generation. The advanced System of Process Engineering (ASPEN Plus) was used to estimate that 208 tons of MSW as feedstock gasification produced 11.82 MW/h of electricity, significantly improving power access from 678 MW to 961.68 MW. Moreover, implementing plasma technology not only enhances electricity generation but also addresses waste management issues across the country, which are at their lowest point. Furthermore, it is crucial to enhance waste management policies in the DR Congo, particularly promoting different waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies, such as plasma, to fight increasing waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions.