Biogas technology in Burundi

Biogas Dissemination Programme

The Projet Biogas is under the control of the Ministry for Energy and Mining. The project was initiated as a Biogas Dissemination Programme of the GTZ in 1984 in the region Cankuzo, it has been part of the Special Energy Programme since 1988.

History

The first agricultural family plants were constructed on livestock farms in the region of Cankuzo in 1985. In 1987 the project was extended to include the Ruyigi region. At the same time the building of biogas plants started for the toilets of schools and other institutions. Private contractors were commissioned for larger plants. The training of craftsmen, the establishment of a service system and the opening of material credit funds were to provide the basis for a self-reliant dissemination concept. By 1992, 206 small-scale plants, and 84 institute plants with digester volumes of over 100 m³ had been constructed.

View in a canal digester, Burundi Photo: Mang

Plant type

Technically, the basis was on the masoned fixed-dome plant modelled on the Chinese design from the outset. Large digesters were chosen on account of the relatively low temperatures in the digester of just over 20°C so that longer fermenting times could be achieved. Gas production was an average of about 0.1 m³/m³ per day.

Experiments with slurry as fertilizer were carried out from the outset on land belonging to the project and to communes. Permanent stabling with grass production as fodder was propagated in cooperation with other institutes.

The directorate general for energy in the Ministry set up a committee to coordinate all biogas activities in the country. The focal area of work in the project is today centred on the construction of plants for institutes, particularly for schools during which the major aspect considered is the environment. There is close contact with the Ministry of Education.