This financial support, provided through PIDG’s project development arm InfraCo, will increase the capacity of the Naivasha Treatment Plant, a pioneering initiative that converts human waste into solid fuel briquettes for industrial use.

In addition to the equity funding, PIDG is contributing a $500,000 technical assistance grant to underpin project execution and de-risk the expansion. 

Sanivation first launched a pilot of its waste treatment model in collaboration with the Nakuru County Government in 2018, demonstrating how collected faecal sludge can be processed and blended with byproducts from sawmills and agricultural activities to produce high-performance briquettes.

These briquettes serve as an alternative to traditional firewood in industrial boilers and, according to the company, help clients cut energy expenses by 10 to 30 per cent.  

The planned expansion, known as the Naivasha Treatment Plant Expansion (NTPx), aims to significantly boost both waste processing and briquette output. 

Once operational, projected in 2027, the upgraded facility will be capable of handling waste volumes roughly equivalent to that generated by 100,000 to 130,000 households, which would relieve pressure on Naivasha’s existing sanitation infrastructure and reduce environmental contamination around Lake Naivasha and adjacent lands. 

Sanivation’s co-founder and CEO, Emily Woods, described the investment as a crucial milestone for the company and for the broader sanitation sector, underscoring the role of waste-to-energy solutions in promoting both environmental protection and sustainable business models.

The expanded facility is expected to further validate the commercial viability of these approaches and attract additional private sector investment in Kenya and beyond.  

The project aligns with growing interest across Africa in circular economy solutions that transform waste into useful products.

By formalizing waste collection and processing and converting sludge into cleaner fuel alternatives, Sanivation’s model contributes to improved public health, decreased reliance on unsustainable biomass fuels, and expanded access to basic sanitation services in urban and peri-urban communities. 

This financing represents part of PIDG’s broader strategy to support sustainable infrastructure projects that generate economic, social, and environmental benefits in emerging markets.

The combination of equity capital and technical support aims to bridge early-stage financing gaps and encourage replication of innovative waste management models throughout the region.