Revolutionizing Water Sustainability: How Diemme Filtration is Transforming East Africa’s Industries
Across Africa’s rapidly growing industrial corridors, water has quietly become one of the most valuable resources. From beverage bottling plants in Nairobi to food processing facilities in Arusha and cement factories in Kampala, every operation relies on water—not just for production, but for survival. Yet, millions of litres are lost daily through inefficient processes, outdated equipment, and a lack of recovery systems.As East Africa’s industries expand, so too does the urgency for smarter, sustainable water management. This is where Diemme Filtration, represented in the region by Geomine Global, steps in. With over a century of Italian engineering excellence, Diemme is redefining how industries reclaim and reuse water; turning waste into value and compliance into competitive advantage.
The Hidden Cost of Water Mismanagement
For most industries, water is both a raw material and a waste stream. According to Diro et al. (2024), a brewery can use 4–6 litres of water to produce a single litre of beer, whereas a food processor may discharge thousands of litres of slurry-rich wastewater daily. The result is not just high water bills, but mounting regulatory pressure to curb pollution.
In Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, regulators are tightening environmental compliance standards. Companies are required to treat, recycle, or safely discharge wastewater before release. For industries that fail to act, the cost isn’t just financial, it’s reputational. Consumers and investors increasingly demand visible sustainability in production.
Filtration at the Heart of Sustainability
Water recovery is not just about treatment; it’s about separation. This is the science where Diemme® Filtration excels. The company’s advanced filter press and thickener systems enable industries to separate solid particles from liquid streams efficiently, recovering up to 95% of process water for reuse.
Among its flagship technologies are:
- Diemme GHT-F Series (GHT.2500.F26, GHT.2000.F17): Fully automated filter presses ideal for large-scale mining and tailings management, capable of processing over 10,000 tons of dry solids per day.
The GHT5000F Domino, the world’s largest filter press, features an advanced plate design accommodating up to 191 plates, enabling a throughput of 12,000–15,000 tons of dry solids per day. Its massive capacity reduces the number of machines needed for tailings dewatering, significantly optimizing investment and operational costs.
- ME Series Filter Presses (ME.1500.F9, ME.2000.F7): Designed for concentrate filtration and industrial processes requiring high pressure and dryness. It is engineered for fully automatic operation, with a range of both large and small models, and it can adapt to different plant situations.
- AIDA Smart Filter Press: Integrates IoT sensors and automation for continuous monitoring and adaptive process control.
- TT Thickeners: Engineered for high-rate clarification and sludge thickening in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment.
Unlike conventional systems, Diemme’s technology provides fine particle capture, uniform cake dryness, and low energy consumption, all while being tropicalized for East Africa’s climate; resisting dust, humidity, and variable power conditions.
Global Case Studies — Proof Beyond Promises
1. Tailings Management (Brazil)
At the Brumadinho site in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Diemme Filtration played a pivotal role in transforming tailings management after the catastrophic dam collapse. To support safer and more sustainable operations, Diemme installed two GHT.2500.F18 filter presses, capable of dewatering approximately 8,000 tons of dry solids per day. This solution reduced the moisture content of the filter cake to around 15%, enabling the transition to dry-stacked tailings and eliminating the need for conventional tailings dams. The implementation not only minimized water consumption and environmental risk but also allowed the mine to resume production under strict regulatory and sustainability standards.
2. Vegetable Oil Refining (Netherlands)
In the Netherlands, a major vegetable-oil refinery that processed sunflower, peanut, palm, and fish oils upgraded from old manual filter presses to two advanced Diemme units (AUTOMAT 800.2600 and AUTOMAT 630.2000). The solution delivered significant improvements in oil recovery, thanks to membrane technology, customized dosing of diatomaceous earth and activated carbon, and operation across high and low temperature conditions. By deploying Diemme’s system, the refinery achieved higher throughput, better product clarity and lower waste volumes, demonstrating how Diemme’s filtration technologies can drive cost-efficiency and sustainable production in food & beverage operations.
3. Industrial Wastewater / Sludge Management – Red Mud Filtration (Hungary)
At an alumina refinery in Hungary, the challenge of disposing of highly caustic red-mud waste (a by-product of the Bayer process) was resolved by installing a Diemme GHT 1500 P7 MEM filter press. Previously, the red mud was stored in large tailings ponds with substantial environmental risk and land footprint. Diemme’s filter press dewatered the sludge into a solid cake with very low residual moisture, eliminating the need for liquid storage and minimizing the risk of groundwater contamination. This project illustrates how Diemme’s technology can transform hazardous industrial waste into safe, manageable solids—offering both environmental safeguards and operational optimisation.
Looking Ahead
As East Africa advances its industrial and mining frontiers, sustainable water management will define competitiveness. Diemme Filtration’s technology isn’t just a tool; it’s a bridge between productivity and environmental integrity.