Villages opt for cheaper biogas as substitute for LPG

As LPG prices rise, consumers opt for more readily available fuel.

FAISALABAD: Biogas is fast becoming a popular fuel in rural areas of the Faisalabad region, as increasing prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) compel consumers to search for cheaper sources of energy.

The importance and demand of biogas plants is especially increasing in rural areas where the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline network has not yet penetrated. In such areas, consumers have to rely on expensive LPG or wood.

Amir Awaince, a biogas plant user, told The Express Tribune that his village does not receive natural gas, and most villagers had to spend Rs5,000 every month on LPG before biogas plants were set up. The villagers installed a biogas plant last year, at a cost of Rs52,000, which utilises easily available water and cow dung.

Experts who talked to The Express Tribune said that biogas generates more heat on burning as compared to natural gas, and is a more environmentally-friendly fuel. Over 250 individuals have been trained by these experts to help serve over 26 biogas construction projects.

Yaseen Biogas Construction Company Chairman Yaseen Ahmad said that biogas plants were now a necessity, especially since natural gas resources are depleting fast in central and northern Punjab. He said  that plants are available in four sizes, according to the requirements of domestic consumers. The smallest unit, with a four cubic-meters capacity, can serve a four-member family. It costs Rs41,000. A six cubic-meters plant costs Rs49,000; an eight cubic-meters plant costs Rs59,000; while a 10 cubic-meters plant costs Rs69,000. The largest 15 cubic-meters plant costs Rs79,000.

The Rural Support Program Network’s (RSPN’s), Pakistan Domestic Biogas Programme (PDBP) is also involved in installing biogas plants in the rural areas of Faisalabad. “So far, we have constructed 2,150 biogas plants in Faisalabad,” said RSPN Programme Manager Sajjad Haider, while talking to The Express Tribune.

Haider said the PDBP was playing a vital role in promoting biogas in the region. The program was initiated in 2009 with the financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He added that the 2,150 plants were sold to consumers for Rs105 million.

“The Netherlands Development Organization and Winrock International are providing technical support to PDBP for biogas plant installation. The Netherlands government also provided Rs7,000 per plant to the user for promoting this technology,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2012.