Adolf R. Olomi Partner of Bio-
MD-Banana Inv Ltd Innovative Project,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia TANZANIA

 Banana Investments Ltd is a wholly Tanzanian owned
company, started as a backyard business in 1989, and
formalised in 1993.
 The company’s head office and factory is located in
Olorien Ward, 4.5 km east of Arusha City.
 At presents it is employing over 250 people and has a
turnover of over US$ 2,800,000

 The companys factory is mainly involved making of
banana alcoholic beverages. Its brands are Raha, raha
Poa, Meru and Malkia banana alcoholic beverages.
 Products other than the alcoholic beverages include,
fiesta dry gin in 50 and 100 mls sachets, and 200 ml
glass bottles.
 Upcoming products in the next one year are Brandy,
drinking water and juices.

 Factory not connected to City main sewer, as it is not
on zoned industrial park
 Currently the 224 Cu. Meters of waste water produced
per day is disposed on dug out ponds.
 Slurry removal from sedimentation tanks
cumbersome.
 As production ground gets choked with the water this
method of disposal is not sustainable.
 Hence the need for a proper waste water disposal
system.

S/n Parameters DESIRED EXISTING
1) Flow in M3/Day 250 224
2) pH 6.8– 7.9 4.5
3) COD in mg/ltr 1875-2000 7,500
4) BOD in mg/ltr 200-250 2,000-2,500
5) TSS in mg/ltr Min. 100 344

 BIL approached the University of Dar es Salaam to
find solution to the wastewater problems in 2009
 This was because we heard that they have been
working on waste water treatment systems especially
constructed wetlands
 UDSM suggested energy generation combined with
polishing in a constructed wetland
 BIL and UDSM applied for Bio-innovate funding

Bar screen
Inlet Effluent
Eq tank
230 Cum/HR collection
6 x 6 x 3+0.5
Primary Value
Tank Cl
mtr
addition to
business
BIOGAS
Buffer UASB
Bio-digester
Tank
Preliminary
Primary (Biogas)
Secondary
CONSTRUCTED WET LAND
Treated effluent
RECYCLE Fish pond Value
addition to
Community

BAR SCREEN , TRANSFER SUMP, EQUALISATION TANK & PRIMARY CLARIFIER

BUFFER TANK
DIGESTER FOUNDATION
GAS HOLDER
LAB & MCC ROOM

TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT - USD 554,080/-
CoET – UDSM , THROUGH Sida - USD 404,080/-
BANANA INVESTMENTS LTD- USD 150,000/-
-So far we have invested over USD 86,000/- into this project
- Trial tests will start in June 2013,

 Factory effluent will be treated
 Manure for gardens will be produced
 Treated water will be used in fish ponds and for
irrigation of neighbours gardens.
 Good example co operation between academia and
business.
 Skills transfer (India – Tanzania or East Africa)
 Laboratory can be used for commercial purposes.
 Savings by Banana approx US$ 200 per day and 50,000
pa.