Alternative energy: Benefits of domestic biogas plants explained

More than 2,800 plants are instal­led across variou­s distri­cts.

FAISALABAD:

“Use of biogas at home can help prevent lung and kidney problems,” Pakistan Domestic Biogas Programme (PDBGP) Communication Officer Nadeem Ahmad said on Thursday.

Ahmed said a home biogas plant also saved 32litres of kerosene oil or 2.5 tonnes of wood annually, thus lessening environmental pollution.

He said that more than 2,800 domestic biogas plants had been installed in 12 districts during last four years under the PDBGP. He said Sargodha district had 692 plants.

Ahmed said 553 plants had been installed in Jhang, 481 in Faisalabad, 343 in Toba Tek Singh, 186 in Khushab, 153 in Chiniot, 151 in Sahiwal, 79 in Sheikhupura, 66 in Nankana Sahib, 40 in Pakpattan, 38 in Gujranwala and 19 in Okara.

He said the plants were being installed in various sizes including 4, 6, 8, 10 and 15 cubic feet which were sufficient for cooking three meals a day for a 4 to 14- member family three times a day. The cost of these plants varied from Rs48,000 and Rs87,000, he said. He said quality control centres had been set up in each district to ensure efficient operation.

He said that PDBGP was a part of Rural Support Programme Network (RSPN) which took the initiative in 2009 with the financial assistance of Netherland’s embassy (KEN) to improve the living standards of people in rural areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2013.