Tanzania's Locals to Benefit from Biogas initiative

He was addressing a Biogas Contractors' meeting held at the Olasiti Garden in Arusha last week, reports AllAfrica.

Dr. Makungu said if biogas is improved in the country especially in towns like Arusha and Dodoma where residents are farmers many families would be able to have the plants at their homes and the cost of building the plants would be reduced.

"It is difficult not to mention the fact this meeting is being held at a time when the issue of energy is high on the agenda not only within the boundaries of the nation but the world over," said Dr. Makungu.

He said not only that the prices of conventional fuels have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, but also traditional biomass energy sources in particular fire wood have been over exploited to levels where continued exploitation is being associated with a looming environmental catastrophe.

The first energy crisis took place in the 70's was triggered by a hike of the oil (fossil fuel) prices and the threat however subsided during the 80's with the lowering of the oil prices and to some extend lessened the motivation for the search of alternative energy sources.

A project, known as the "Biogas for Better Life Africa Initiative' - and which is under the supervision of the Netherlands organization SNV - was formally launched in Nairobi recently, with the support in cash and in kind of about 12 international organizations.

The meeting was facilitated by Prakash Ghimire who is a Senior Regional Advisor with Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) Asia-Africa on Renewable Energy/Biogas Programme.

'The cost of constructing a biogas plant is a bit high, because one needs to have burnt bricks, about 11 bags of cement, sand and gravel - among other things.

View the AllAfrica story by clicking here.

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