REA, Norway Invest in Biogas
THE government of Tanzania through the Rural Energy Agency (REA) in cooperation with the Norwegian Embassy and the Netherlands government have jointly committed over 9bn/-to fund a two-year drive to promote wide use of domestic biogas in rural Tanzania.
The drive, which will cover 2016 and
2017 aims at building and running 10,000 biogas plants across the
country with the Tanzania Domestic Biogas Programme (TDBP) as the
vehicle that will execute the project.
Speaking separately at the official
public event to inaugurate the drive under the REASNV project launch
held in Boza Village, Pangani District in Tanga region, the REA, SNV
senior officials, the Tanga Regional Commissioner (RC) Mwamtumu Mahiza
hailed themove as a crucial step in both protecting the environment and
fighting the rural poverty.
Also present at the event included the
TDBP Coordinator who doubles as the Centre for Agricultural
Mechanisation and Rural Technology (CAMARTEC) representative at the
event, Lehada Cyprian Shila.
“Launching the second phase of the TDBP
after the first phase that started in 2009 will no doubt herald a new
era of improved health, sustainable and humane life by the rural
population.
“The biogas revolution is expected to
consolidate itself and contribute to increased access to clean, modern
energy in rural and peri-urban households of Tanzania,” remarked Martijn
Veen, the SNV Sector leader on renewable energy.
Further the SNV expert was of the view
that results coming out of the TDBP -- in particular the implementation
of the first phase where over 12, 000 biogas plants were constructed
across the country -- very encouraging so far.
“Few of the TDBP proud results includes
but are not limited to the setting up of the biogas sector
implementation structure with partners throughout the country, including
MIGESADO, ELCT, CARITAS, FIDE, KDA, NRCF and Sokoine University of
Agriculture.
“Also in this list are LITA, VETA and
SimGas, amongst others. Together, more than 60 newly established
biodigester construction enterprises and over 600 qualified masons were
trained.
“This has resulted in over 12,000
digesters installed so far, benefitting more than 70,000 people,” hinted
the SNV senior official. Earlier, officiating at the drive launching
ceremony, Mwantumu Mahiza expressed her joy following the re-launching
of the biogas programme targeting rural dwellers with the REA offering a
240, 000/- discount to each biogas developed between this month through
June, 2015.
Commenting on the project, the TDCU
Chairman, Salim K Rajab, was of the view that the TDBP has proved beyond
doubt to be the dairy farmers reliable, friendly and powerful ally in
their struggle to kick poverty, persistent problem of lacking a reliable
and clean source of domestic energy and that of poor yields in their
farms.
“With a biogas plant you gain several
benefits including that of lighting your home with cheap, clean and
reliable biogas bulb, turning animal wastes into animal food, farm
manure leading to increased farm harvests.
What else do you demand out of such a
profitable venture?,” asked the TDCU boss. TDBP started operations in
2009, as part of the Africa Biogas Partnership Programme (ABPP).
ABPP is a joint venture between the
Netherlands Directorate for Development Cooperation (DGIS), the Humanist
Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries (Hivos) and the
Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV).
The programme aims at initiating and
assisting large-scale dissemination of domestic biogas in Tanzania,
through a marketbased approach.
The TDBP is hosted in the Centre for
Agricultural Mechanisation and Rural Technology (CAMARTEC), a parastatal
under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing, based in Arusha.
Biogas provides a sustainable
opportunity for individual households with livestock to reduce
dependency on firewood and fossil fuels, and to benefit from modern and
clean energy. A biogas digester converts the dung from livestock into
biogas, which is used for cooking and lighting.
