Tanzania backs biogas

The Government of Tanzania is working with the Norwegian Embassy and the Netherland Government to fund a two-year drive to promote the use of domestic biogas in rural Tanzania.

According to news website The Daily News, the East African country will implement the plan via its Government-run Rural Energy Agency - a body which aims to support the use of modern energy.

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, the w

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 the move 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," said Martijn Veen, the SNV Sector leader on renewable energy.

He added: "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."

According to the news outlet, more than 12,000 biogas plants have been installed in Tanzania.

Commenting on the project, the TDCU chairman, Salim Rajab, said: "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?"