Zimbabwe’s rural dwellers turn to biogas for energy

[HARARE] Rural dwellers in Zimbabwe are adopting a simpletechnologyto develop clean, affordable and easily accessible renewableenergy来自生物质。

The Domboshava Community Development Association (DCDA), which was formed in April 2014 in Zimbabwe by rural dwellers, is one of the community groups that have embraced the initiative that enables members to build biogas digesters in their homes to generate energy.

“We use waste liquid discharged by the biogas digesters as organic fertilisers, making life easier and affordable.”

Nyasha Marimo, Domboshava Community Development Association

Ian Makone, the association’s technical advisor, toldSciDev.Netin an interview last month (14 January) that each DCDA member contributes US$15 monthly that is saved towards the construction of a biogas digester. Each digester costs US$600 to build.

“This initiative will enable everyone in the DCDA to have a digester at their homestead. Since our inception, we have managed to build 23 digesters for 23 members,” says Makone, noting that the association has 30 members.

美国驻津巴布韦大使馆通过其大使的特殊自助计划，在2014年向DCDA提供了近8,500美元的价格，以购买原材料来建造消化者。

Makone, a trained builder, has been instrumental in the construction of the digesters.

“Firewood has become a scarce commodity in this village and biogas has eased the burden,” says Makone, noting that the initiative is promoting community development.

SciDev.Net目击者在上个月（1月14日）（1月14日）在Mashonaland东省Domboshava的Parirehwa Village建造了沼气消化器的社区成员。Fixed dome biogas digesters are constructed underground using bricks, cement and sand.

The biogas digesters comprise an inlet chamber, main dome expansion chamber and slurry outlet for liquid waste. “Most rural communities depend on firewood for energy, but with biogas we use readily available organic materials such as cow dung, pig, chicken or human waste,” says Blessing Jonga, a biogas expert and consultant based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

According to Jonga, so far about 300 rural households and institutions are using this form of energy in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s Environment Management Agency (EMA) says that 50million trees are disappearing from forests in the country every year.

“Most rural communities depend on firewood for energy but with biogas we use readily available organic materials,” Jonga says.

Nyasha Marimo, a rural dweller, tellsSciDev.Netbiogas energy produced from the digesters has saved her from walking long distances to fetch firewood. “We use waste liquid discharged by the biogas digesters as organic fertilisers, making life easier and affordable,” Marimo says.

The biogas is used for heating, lighting and refrigeration, Jonga explains.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in Zimbabwe, with a mandate for the rapid, equitable diffusion of energy in rural areas, has been providing biogas energy to local institutions, restaurants and households.

Johannes Nyamayedenga, REA public relations manager, says biogas isbeplay足球体育的微博环境友好型, and is asustainablesource of energy. He adds that this year restaurants at selected communities in the country will be able to use biogas provided by the REA.

Jonga touts other benefits of using biogas digesters.

“Most rural households do not afford chemical fertilisers hence biogas offers a very clean intervention in the form of organic fertilisers,” says Jonga. “Pig farmers were having waste disposal challenges and were in constant problems with the EMA, but a digester helps as a waste management technology.”

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.