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ENERGIA News Issue 3, July 1997

Case study Biogas in Tambama

CERSCOR, an NGO from Senegal involved in the dissemination of renewable energy technologies, has been involved with a biogas project for the women of Tambama village. Tambama is a poor village of 136 inhabitants, 66 of whom are women.

The village also has a large herd of around 350 cows. This resource is a mixed blessing: on the one hand the cows provide the women one of their few sources of income, the sale of milk, while on the other hand they create a lot of pollution with their dung.

Contact was made with the villagers through one of CERSCOR's technicians who originates from Tambama. The technician considered that biogas might be an interesting option for assisting the villagers to improve their living standards. There would certainly be sufficient dung and water from the wells, the two essential inputs in biogas production. If the villagers were willing to have a biogas digester, CERSCOR considered that it would also give them an opportunity to assess whether or not this technology could have any impact against a background of extreme poverty.

Participation by the villagers in the project was given a high priority by CERSCOR. During a sensitisation phase they were asked to identify their problems. The drudgery of firewood collection for women and the lack of lighting, especially for the mosque, were singled out as the most pressing problems. The villagers indicated their willingness to participate in a project and the beneficiaries of the stoves and lamps were identified.

Two 8m3 digesters were built using local materials (stones, wood and straw) and local labour. Building the digesters was difficult since the site chosen was on rock. Unfortunately some of the masonry work had to be re-done several times during the rain season. The cost was FG 248,000 and FG 384,000 for labour and was paid for by the Institute of Energy of French Speaking Countries (IEPF). A management committee supervised the work organisation. The women of the village staked a place on the committee which resulted in four young women learning to read and receiving technical training in how to deal with the breakdowns of the lamps and stoves.

At the beginning of 1997, the mosque and 12 families had lighting and four kitchens also had gas for cooking. This has meant a saving of FG 700 per week on kerosene for lighting. Less time spent on fuel wood collection has meant more time for other activities. The village is cleaner.

Villagers are now strongly motivated to face up to their environmental problems and to take over the project themselves. A feeling of self-confidence has been generated (one of CERSCOR's objectives) and villagers are exploring the use of the effluent from the digesters, as well as considering building a school and starting other income generating activities.

This article has been adapted by Joy Clancy from an interview Billy Sow gave to the national daily ‘Horoya’, January 24 1997. The interview appeared under the title: “Le village qui s’éveille au biogaz”. For more information, please contact:
Billy A. Sow, AGUIPER, B.P. 3075, Conakry, Guinée; Fax +224.413811