ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF BIO-ENERGY PLANTS FOR LOCATION ANALYSIS IN PARTS OF ANAMBRA STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The need for proper location studies, distance and transportation cost optimization of hauling of wastes from generation centres to centralized treatment centres cannot be overemphasized. The goal of this study is to evaluate the economic viability and to optimize these available sites considering investment cost, operational cost etcwhich are critical factors in siting of facility. Three locations were selected as suitable regions for siting biogas plant in Anambra State based on previous studies. The regions includes: Onitsha North, Njikoka and Dunukofia Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Anambra. Economic parameters for location decisions such as Investment, maintenance, operational costs were used to determine the bio gas profitability for the three locations.The economic viability study was carried out using bio gas profitability index value. The result of the study shows that the profitability index value is 1.498894, 1.732658, and 1.433577 for Onitsha North, Njikoka, Dunukofia L.G.A respectively. Njikoka has the highest investment cost as well as the highest profitability index value, while Dunukofia has the lowest investment and the lowest biogas profitability index value.