28th June 2019 – The IMPRESS Project of the Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (MNRE) had IMPRESS’ed the Samoa Trust Estate Corporation (STEC)! Ten (10) sets of safety gears (safety headsets, safety glasses, safety boots and rain coats) were officially handed over by the Project to the STEC; to assist the Corporation with its operations of harvesting Invasive Trees as feedstock to the Biomass Gasification Plant (BGP).
The STEC is one of the main stakeholders to the IMPRESS Project. They will responsible for feeding the BGP which is currently under construction. The actual feedstock will be composed of only four (4) targeted species; Puluvao, Pulumamoe, Fa’apasi and Tamaligi Pa’epa’e. These invasive species will be harvested only from certain plots of Afolau that is only affiliated with the BGP.
“We officially hand over the equipments prepared by the IMPRESS Project as our contribution to the Corporation for the safety of you and your staff members who will be trained in the harvesting of our feedstock to the Gasification Plant. Our concerns are your safety because your safety ensures the successful implementation of our Biomass Gasification Plant.” Says Ulu.
“Being in the field harvesting for feedstock isn’t an easy task and I am concerned for the safety of my staff who will out in the field handling these operations; but I am very grateful and pleased to have the IMPRESS Project supporting our duties” replied Patea.
At the moment, the Corporation is collaborating with the Scientific Research Organization of Samoa (SROS) to maximize the calorific values of different compositions for the Biomass feedstock.
Mr Lilo Samani Tupufia – Feedstock manager, had stated “SROS is assisting us in testing for the maximum calorific values of the four invasive species were targeting. The feedstock itself will be in form of wood chips where we will mix all four (4) to get the best composition for our feedstock. Thanks to SROS, we have managed to calculate for the best Mix!”
The Biomass Gasification plant is foreseeing its grand opening tentatively December 2019. Once it starts operating, it will be the fourth (4th) newest technology of its kind to make Biomass energy available for electricity generation.
We acknowledge the support of our Donor – Global Environment Facilitt (GEF) and the Government of Samoa for financially supporting sustainable developments that is benefitting whole of Samoa.