Andorra Advances €10M Biomethanisation Plant for Organic Waste

Andorra's government is advancing plans for a biomethanisation plant estimated at over €10 million to treat organic waste and generate methane for cogeneration facilities.

The Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock has finished technical assessments and is now reviewing implementation options, such as integrating the project into upcoming investments by waste operator Ctrasa. Environment Minister Guillem Casal confirmed the facility's potential, despite challenges posed by Andorra's scale. He described the country's maximum annual organic waste volume of about 10,000 tonnes as "ínfima" compared to global norms, noting few plants worldwide handle such limited quantities.

To ensure viability, authorities are exploring imports of organic material from nearby areas like Cerdanya and Alt Urgell, enabling the plant to benefit Andorra and adjacent regions. Casal pointed to the hefty investment required but contrasted it with the environmental and economic drawbacks of waste exports, which currently account for roughly 70% of generated refuse despite some local processing and inbound waste.

The facility would adhere to rigorous international quality and monitoring standards, demanding contaminant-free inputs without glass, packaging, paper or cardboard. Complementing this, the ministry this week opened a tender for a contractor to manage selective organic waste collection—currently 1,000 to 1,200 tonnes yearly—and coordinate exports via external partners. Casal described the contract as "evolutiu" to accommodate growth toward 10,000 tonnes through broader producer involvement, local council support and public education on proper separation for easier, cheaper handling.