Securing food and energy for future generations

This project addresses the need for manure utilisation and the demand for electricity in the Palestinian Territories. Local partner Agropal Investments Company Ltd (dairy farm) became interested, after learning about another PSI project on manure utilisation by transformation to biogas for producing electricity and organic fertiliser.

The applicant, Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. already has many years of experience with building biogas installations and reacted to the interest of Agropal by investigating the feasibility of building such an installation on the farm of Agropal. The result is a well elaborated plan that is proposed for PSI support.

The installation will be built on the dairy farm of Agropal near Hebron and will supply the electricity to other farms in the region by building a small grid. The biogas reactor designed to produce gas for a CHP installation of 340 kWh will also utilise waste from other farms/food processors.

The applicant is part of the Oosterhof Holman Group that works mainly in infrastructure contracting. The local partner Agropal owns a large dairy farm with 600 cows and is seeking ways to get more added value to the farm. Wageningen University has pledged support for providing knowledge on utilising the fertiliser products of the installation.

The partners will establish a joint venture company for implementing the project and run the business coming from the project. Oosterhof Holman sees the joint venture as an opportunity to get involved in a wider range of "environment" business in the Middle East.
This project is the first in the Palestinian Territories that will introduce manure/waste biogas technology. It will produce electricity from renewable sources and produce valuable fertilisers for crop and vegetable production.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

The main theme of CSR in the project will of course be environment. Hygiene, safety and efficiency will be incorporated in the project by applying ATEX standards and all points of a SA 8000 certification. The workers will receive a good salary and fringe benefits like health care insurance and free lunches.

Impact

Employment and working conditions

The working conditions will comply with international standards, the work safety conditions will get special attention and the salaries will be above unofficial minimum. The joint venture will offer health care, health insurance and free meals to its employees.

Innovation/Transfer of knowledge

The biogas installation and producing electricity from the biogas is new for the Palestinian Territories. Even in the region it is not very well known. The utilisation of bio fertilisers will get new meaning through the knowledge that will be transferred through the project.

Chain effects

The neighbouring farms will be able to dispose of their manure in a sustainable way. Local food processors will be able to dispose of their waste/by-products in a sustainable way and eventually receive money for it. Transport providers will get more business. A local company will get a contract to do maintenance for the installation.
The farmers in the close proximity of the project will get electricity for a lower price as the present costs. They will also get a liquid fertiliser at a low price. Crop and vegetable farmers can dispose of high quality bio fertiliser that will be cheaper than imported (lower quality) alternatives like compost.

Impact on the sector

The regional electricity company will be able to contribute to the state target for renewable energy and after spin-off investments will actually purchase renewable energy for the main grid and distribute it.
The local university will benefit from the project as new knowledge on co-digestion and bio fertilisers will be available for them.

Environment

The manure of the dairy farm of the local partner (and neighbouring farms) will be processed and utilised in a more environmental friendly way. Waste from food processors will now be utilised and the minerals of that waste will be recycled. The electricity now generated by fossil fuel will be replaced by a sustainable source.

Position of women

The project will provide employment for a relatively large number of women especially in medium positions.

Impact on food safety

By producing bio fertilisers, the crop and vegetable farms will be able to dispose of a good source of nutrients for their crops and the production will be increased.

Impact on water

A small impact may be recognised as liquid food processing waste is now transferred into liquid bio fertiliser.

PSIP12OT24
Quality EducationDecent Work and Economic Growth

Project number

NL-KVK-27378529-PSIP12OT24

Total budget

€ 970,875

Countries

Palestine, State of

Project status

Finalised

Budget spent

100.00 %
100.00 % spent

Tied status

Untied
Startdate:
Enddate:

Project partners

Agropal Investments Company Ltd, Netherlands Enterprise Agency, Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V.

Sectors

Biofuel-fired power plants
Transactions
TypeProviderProvider ref.ReceiverReceiver ref.Value (€)DateValue date
Incoming Funds 78,750.00 21-12-2012 21-12-2012
Incoming Funds 900,000.00 21-12-2012 21-12-2012
Incoming Funds -7,875.00 19-08-2020 19-08-2020
Outgoing Commitment Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 78,750.00 21-12-2012 21-12-2012
Outgoing Commitment Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 900,000.00 21-12-2012 21-12-2012
Outgoing Commitment Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. -7,875.00 19-08-2020 19-08-2020
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 315,000.00 10-03-2014 10-03-2014
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 45,000.00 09-06-2014 09-06-2014
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 56,250.00 05-09-2014 05-09-2014
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 56,250.00 09-12-2014 09-12-2014
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 56,250.00 09-03-2015 09-03-2015
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 56,250.00 09-06-2015 09-06-2015
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 56,250.00 04-09-2015 04-09-2015
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 56,250.00 03-12-2015 03-12-2015
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 56,250.00 03-03-2016 03-03-2016
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 56,250.00 03-06-2016 03-06-2016
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 70,875.00 13-07-2017 13-07-2017
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 90,000.00 16-07-2019 16-07-2019
Disbursement Oosterhof Holman Milieutechniek B.V. 0.00 19-08-2020 19-08-2020