Topics & Events

Rika UEMURA, Akihito MOTEGI (JICA Vanuatu office)
Junji ANAI, Rikae KODANI, Tetuso YATUS (J-PRISM II Expert)

In "Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries Phase II (J-PRISM II)" (Project period: February 2017 - August 2022), J-PRISM II Experts have supported the improvement of the Bouffa landfill site for over 15 years after starting the Bouffa landfill site improvement project since September of 2006. In this article, activities for the improvement of the Bouffa landfill site by using heavy equipment in J-PRISM II are introduced.

[Activities for Improving the Bouffa Landfill Site]

The waste generated in the Port Vila city, where is a capital of Vanuatu, has been incoming to the Bouffa landfill site. Current used cell (Cell-1) has been used from 2008, and expanded by supports in the "Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management in Pacific Island Countries Phase I (J-PRISM I)". In present, the waste has been disposed over capacity of the Cell-1 and it has caused to prevent waste collection vehicles from incoming to the Bouffa landfill site due to shortage of space of Cell-1. Therefore, the PVCC has planned to construct new access road in line with operation of the Bouffa landfill site based on an expansion plan of the Bouffa landfill site prepared by the support by J-PRISM II. J-PRISM II has provided technical guidance for topographic survey, excavation of access road and construction of rain drain. In addition, J-PRISM II has found by experimentally excavation that there are pavement material (crushed stone) in the Bouffa landfill site for the construction of access road.

For expansion and general operation and management of landfill site, two types of heavy equipment are necessary, namely a bulldozer which has used to collect and compact waste unloaded from waste collection vehicles and an excavator which has used to shape the waste embankment and lay the gas vent pipe and leachate vent pipe. In the end of 2021, there is only a usable bulldozer which had been procured by Japanese government, thus the PVCC have rented an excavator as needed. However, it is not be able to respond timely and it needs high rental cost, therefore the operation and management in the Bouffa landfill site has been gradually deteriorated. JICA Vanuatu office considered this situation and proposed to JICA Head quarter providing an excavator which can be used for general purpose with the PVCC, and JICA Headquarter has approved the proposal.

Technical guidance on method of leveling measurement to an officer in PVCC

After the guidance for method of leveling measurement in two hours, the PVCC officer has become to be able to set the equipment and measure the leveling.

Pile driving on the center line of the access road. A bulldozer procured by Japanese government has used for overcutting of bush in the access road.

Excavation of pavement material (crushed stone) for the access road in the Bouffa landfill site by rented excavator

[Handover Ceremony of Grant Aided Excavator]

After the first case of COVID-19 among the frontline workers has been confirmed for the first time in February of 2022, the handover ceremony has been extended due to lockdown in the capital city. In 12th of April 2022, at last, an excavator (Total weight: 24 ton, bucket capacity: 0.8m3), which is used for operation and management of the Bouffa landfill site, has handed over from JICA Vanuatu office to the Port Vila City Corporation (PVCC).

After the end of rain season in Vanuatu in 2022, the PVCC is planning to start construction of the access road and expansion of the cell in the Bouffa landfill site based on the support by J-PRISM II.

An excavator (0.8m3) procured by JICA to the PVCC.

Speech by Rika UEMURA, Chief representative of JICA Vanuatu office.

Exorcism by the bishop. Prayer for safe driving and accident-free driving using holy water.

Attachment of ODA mark and JICA mark. A space to attach the Port Vila city logo next to the JICA mark was reserved.

An article in Vanuatu Daily Post (16th April 2022)

[Reference]

• [Project Outline] SPREP: About J-PRISM II (external link)
• [Vanuatu Daily Post online]
  JICA hands 24-ton excavator for Bouffa Landfill (16th April, 2022) (external link)