P2269@com.qz.se ("ENG-LEONG FOO ", MIRCEN-STOCKHOLM) (03/28/89)
This is an excerpt from the report of the Experts Group Meeting on Energy for Rural Areas of Africa which was published in the UNITAR/UNDP Centre on Small Energy Resources Newsletter. Aug 1988, Issue 12. B) Biogas In Africa, biogas technology, though promoted by some organizations (i.e. CRAT - African Regional Centre of Technology, Senegal), has not been greatly exploited. This is mainly due to the high initial investment costs which small farmers cannot afford. In Africa over 80 % of installed biodigesters for household use have been entirely financed by international or non-governmental organizations or by the national government themselves. Nevertheless, in a few countries, particularly Kenya and Tanzania, there has been a fairly wide diffusion of biodigesters and a lot of information on results of exploitation is presently available there. In both countries biodigesters are sold commercially and there has been government encouragement of biogas projects. In Liberia and Nigeria there have been some successful demonstration projects. In Ghana, pilot biogas plants were built by the National Energy Board, in an effort to find a feasible alternative to fuelwood. In Tanzania 120 Indian designed biogas plants were installed between 1974 and 1983. In Senegal, some biogas units (less than 10) were installed by two non-governmental organizations. Both of these projects were reported as unsuccessful because the programme objectives were initially unclear and the user needs were noy sufficiently examined. Technical problems, namely the vitrification ofashes and the poor quality of the gas produced, have been found with the biogas units (between 150 -400 kW) installed in the Ivory Coast and Mali. Technical problems have continued to plague biogas projects and there have been severe difficulties in bridging the gap between research and application. The greatest problem associated with biomethanization is the high proce of installing a biodigester. The cost varies according to the type of biodigester, its size, and the materials used. A Chinese-type digester of 10 m3 capable of providing enough electricity and cooking of one family of 6 members costs on average USD 1.500. Overall, technical and financial problems have meant that the potential usefulness of this form of energy is largely overlooked. A further disincentive has been the number off broken down and deserted biodigesters to be found. This obvious evidence of failure has discouraged rural people from considering biodigesters as a source of energy. Immediate Comment from E.L. Foo : ------------------------------- Does anyone have first hand experience on the situation in Africa and would like to elaborate more on the existing problems; maybe also on why a success in one country has been a failure in another.