A high-level delegation from Seychelles, led by Hon. Flavien Joubert, Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change, and Environment, and Mr. Shane Emilie, CEO of the Landscape and Waste Management Agency (LWMA), recently conducted an official visit to Umeå, Sweden, to explore circular economy initiatives, waste management solutions, and sustainable urban planning. The visit was organised under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Umeå and Seychelles, established in 2004, and was facilitated by the Swedish University City of Umeå through Seychelles’ Consul General in Sweden, Mr. Lennart Swenson. Mrs. Cathrin Alenskär, Manager of International Affairs in Umeå, was also instrumental in coordinating the overseas mission and ensuring meaningful engagement with key stakeholders.
One of the key areas of interest was Umeå’s Eco-Industrial Park, an innovative project that integrates circular economy principles by promoting waste-to-resource initiatives and fostering industrial symbiosis. The park is expanding through funding from the Municipality and the European Union (EU), with expectations of additional support from Sweden’s national government. The initiative aims to create a hub for sustainable industries, emphasizing material recovery, energy efficiency, and low-carbon production systems. The Seychelles delegation saw great potential in adapting similar concepts to Seychelles, particularly in establishing waste processing hubs for green waste, plastics, and hazardous materials.
The delegation also visited Klockarbäcken Recycling Centre, a drop-off waste sorting facility where residents separate waste into recyclables, bulky items, and hazardous materials. Umeå’s system encourages citizen participation by offering a cost-effective alternative to curbside waste collection. Residents prefer dropping off recyclables at designated centers because sorting waste at the source reduces overall waste disposal fees. This model could be highly beneficial for Seychelles, where improper waste disposal, illegal dumping, and low levels of recycling remain key challenges. The Agency has plan to establish waste disposal centres at regional level subject to availability of land and funding from government for the project.
Vakin, the municipal waste and water company, plays a central role in Umeå’s waste management system, overseeing nine recycling centers and 79 local drop-off stations, handling over 1.5 million waste collections annually. The company’s approach to biogas production from organic waste is particularly relevant to Seychelles, as it aligns with the government’s goal of improving waste-to-energy initiatives. Minister Joubert emphasised the potential for adopting biogas technologies at Seychelles’ Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT) digester plant to increase renewable energy generation while reducing landfill waste.
Additionally, the delegation engaged with Umeå Energi, which operates a waste-to-energy incineration plant processing over 156,000 tons of waste annually, including imports from Norway, the UK, and the Netherlands. The facility generates heat for district heating systems and captures carbon dioxide for e-methanol production, demonstrating an advanced low-emission approach to waste management. In its effort to move toward zero landfilling, Seychelles is currently working with the World Bank and other partners to undertake an options analysis or feasibility study to explore similar carbon capture technologies and waste-to-energy models to reduce its environmental footprint.
The visit also explored collaborations with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in invasive species research and pig breeding expertise. Minister Joubert emphasised the need for technical partnerships in these areas to strengthen Seychelles’ agricultural resilience and protect biodiversity from invasive species. SLU expressed interest in facilitating joint research projects and advertising MSc opportunities for Seychelles students. The potential collaboration could support Seychelles in developing targeted research on biodiversity conservation and improving sustainable livestock farming techniques.
This mission marks an important milestone in Seychelles’ commitment to strengthening its environmental policies, fostering green innovation, and adapting Scandinavian expertise to local challenges. The knowledge gained from Sweden will be instrumental in shaping Seychelles’ waste management infrastructure, circular economy roadmap, and climate resilience strategies for a more sustainable future.
Follow the below link to read more: https://lwma.gov.sc/…/seychelles-looks-to-sweden…/…