Biogas support for Tanzania "BiogaST"

Goal of the project Biogas support for Tanzania "BiogaST" is to increase the life circumstances of the rural population in Tanzania by establishing a decentralized energy supply through adapted small biogas digesters for the use of fermentation gas as cook energy and in further energetic applications. This should be reached by long-term assistance to the self-help through educating local workers in building digesters and by training the users in running them. The project BiogaST is realised in cooperation of the registered association Engineers Without Borders Germany (EWB) and the Tanzanian non-governmental organisation MAVUNO Project in Kagera region.


INITIAL SITUATION & AIMS:

In Tanzania, meals are traditionally cooked on open wood fires. Cutting of trees and bushes to collect wood for cooking or for selling as firewood or charcoal led to considerable deforestation. The results are devastating since deforestation not only rapidly decreases the soil quality but also increases erosion as rainwater is running off and does not seep away into the ground. The changes in soil fertility and soil quality endanger the basis for food security in Kagera region tremendously.

If biogas is used for cooking there is no further need for firewood which saves time for other work than collecting it. Further, the risk of respiratory diseases and ophthalmitis through smoke exposure is drastically reduced. In addition, the fermented substrates can be used as fertiliser to increase soil quality and soil fertility. This way regional resources are substituted and nutrients optimally used in the life cycle.


PREVIOUS PROJECT PHASES:

After conducting a feasibility study at Kagera region in 2008 a development and research phase in Germany was initiated. The intention was to design an adapted type of a small scale biogas digester which in comparison to the standard types allows to use also crop residues as substrate for fermentation. In cooperation with the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart two pilot digesters were constructed and tested in Germany. After a successful completion of this phase the first pilot digester for education and further research was built between August and November 2010 at MAVUNO Project together with six local craftsmen. Beginning of 2011 EWB Germany carried out a first evaluation of the new pilot plant.


CURRENT PROJECT PHASE:

Beginning of November another member of EWB Germany traveled to Kagera in order to educate for six weeks an expert in running the biogas laboratory and operating the pilot digester for education and further research at MAVUNO Project. The construction of 14 further digesters at rural households is planned for 2012. The educated expert will then be involved in adapting the new design of the digester together with EWB. Later this expert will be responsible for supervision of digesters and training of users.


Further informations www.biogast.org Read more