Nubarashen Landfill Gas Capture and Power Generation Project in Yerevan

Since 2001 Shimizu Corporation, a Japanese construction and engineering firm, has conducted a series of studies oriented to implementing CDM projects in several sectors of the Armenian economy. Among the three chosen projects on prefeasibility assessment stage was: "Introduction of co-generation system into district heating system in Yerevan", "Small scale hydropower plant" and the one which proposes collection of landfill gas (LFG) from Nubarashen landfill site in Yerevan and its further combustion in a gas engine generator.

The later appeared to be the most promising and to that end the draft of a feasibility study for utilization of methane gas at landfill disposal sites in Yerevan was developed by the request of NEDO in 2002. The study presented overview materials on the Republic of Armenia, the solid waste management utility in Yerevan, environmental legislation, an outline of the implementation site, etc. Later on, after a series of consultations with the key ministries and officials, this research served as a basis for the development of the project design document (PDD).

The Nubarashen landfill site has been handling the solid waste of Yerevan City ever since its establishment on the outskirts of the city in 1960. The landfill site is divided into three sections, A, B and C, each covering an area of 20 ha. Site A started service in 1960 and became full in 1985; Site B has been in service since 1986 until the present day, and Site C has been set aside for future use.

The Nubarashen landfill site receives almost all the solid waste of Yerevan City, which has a population of approximately 1.2 mln people. Almost all the waste going to Nubarashen is composed of domestic waste discharged by citizens, whereas currently the industrial waste accounts for only a small proportion. The amount of waste carried into the Nubarashen landfill site is roughly estimated as 420-450 tons/day.

Due to a lack of funds, site operation and heavy machinery maintenance cannot be carried out according to the prescribed manuals (landfill standards). Landfill gas (LFG) from the site is released into the atmosphere unchecked and current conditions on the site are detrimental to the local environment. This is because LFG is a source of odor when emitted in low concentrations and a potential cause of explosion or ignition when emitted in high concentrations.

Moreover, since the main constituent of LFG is methane, which has global warming potential (GWP) of 21, it also has a negative impact on the global environment. Yerevan city tried to collect LFG in the past, however, this attempt failed due to the lack of funds and also insufficient technical capacity.

Along with the positive environmental outcome of the project, the following benefits are expected: improvement of hygiene and sanitary conditions of the landfill due to its partly covering with gravel and sand; odor dissemination and wastes ignition prevention; replacement of exhausted energy generating sources; energy utilization; human development at innovative technology introduction; employment within the project implementation.

A series of meetings in the Ministry on Nature Protection of RA as the Designated National Authority (DNA) for CDM under the Kyoto Protocol as well as on-site visits preceded the development of the final version of the PDD which was submitted for approval to the DNA on January 21, 2005. Shimizu Corporation, Hokkaido Electric Power Company and Municipality of Yerevan stood as project participants.

The project document has been reviewed by the DNA in terms of its contribution to Armenia's sustainable development and was approved on February 16, 2005. A week later, the project was approved by the Japanese Government. Later, the project was validated by Japan Quality Assurance Organization (JQA) as the Designated Operational Entity and submitted to the CDM Executive Board for registration.

On November 28, 2005, the registration of the "Nubarashen Landfill Gas Capture and Power Generation Project in Yerevan" CDM project took place. The positive decision on registration was taken by the CDM Executive Board earlier that month, during its 22nd meeting. The significance of the event must not be underestimated as it made Armenia the 17th country in the world and the very first country in the post Soviet space, hosting a CDM project.

On May 11, 2006 the Protocol of Understanding was signed among the project participants. The Protocol is a framework document setting mutual liabilities of the participants and stipulating conditions of further project implementation. It envisages signing of a separate agreement which will endorse the project construction works.

On September 22, 2006 Shimizu Corporation finalized three-month field survey on the territory of the landfill aimed at: (i) estimation of actual volume and composition of the waste disposed at the landfill; (ii) installation of test wells and analysis of landfill gas; (iii) analysis of surface gas; (iv) measuring of groundwater level. Based on the results of the survey Shimizu Corporation identified territories with the considerable potential of landfill gas generation and revised capacity of power generator to be installed under the project activity.

On June 1, 2007 Summary Memorandum on Major Issues of the Project Agreement of Nubarashen CDM Project was signed between Japanese Consortium and the Municipality of Yerevan City. The document defines and clarifies main organizational and financial issues of the Project Agreement to be signed between the parties in 2008.

On March 10, 2009 the Project Agreement on Implementation of Nubarashen Landfill Gas Capture CDM Project was signed between the Municipality of Yerevan and the Japanese Shimizu Corporation. On behalf of the Municipality the document was signed by Mr. Gagik Beglaryan, Mayor of Yerevan and on behalf of Shimizu Corporation by Mr. Hiroyuki Kurita, General Manager of GHG Project Department.

The opening ceremony of the project took place on October 13, 2009. The event was jointly organized by project participants i.e. the Municipality of Yerevan and Shimizu Corporation and attended by more then 30 guests from ministries, agencies, municipalities, communities and mass media.

The project has been operating since October 2009.

31 Dec 07 - 30 Dec 14 (Renewable)
Changed from: 01 Jan 07 - 31 Dec 13

Monitoring report:31 Dec 2007 - 31 Mar 2010
Issuance request state: Issued
CERs requested: 12022

Monitoring report: 01 Apr 2010 - 31 Jul 2011
Issuance request state: Issued
CERs requested: 28397

Monitoring report: 01 Aug 2011 - 30 Sep 2012
Issuance request state: In period for requesting review
CERs requested: 23955