Energy Minister Samuel Undenge said there the Institutional and Domestic Biogas Digester programmes were currently underway, with 33 digesters implemented in eight provinces in 2014.
“Feasibility studies on the production of electricity using biogas produced at Municipal sewerage treatment works are also to commence in 2015,”Undenge told journalists at Mutare Press Club last week. Under the Zimbabwe Domestic Biogas digester programme, government with the assistance of two Dutch NGOs will construct 7 000 biogas digesters. Undenge said the programme was being spearheaded by his ministry in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
“215 biogas digesters are to be constructed this year. Focus so far has been on capacity building and sensitising communities on biogas technology,” he said. The biogas programme is already being rolled out to rural institutions and village homesteads by Rural Electrification Agency(REA) together with some NGO`s and developmental partners.
The minister said government was also encouraging the Independent Energy Producers, particularly in Manicaland province, to come up with their proposals as they are also critical in the energy generation sector. He mentioned that Border Timbers Biomas project was producing 0, 5 megawatt while Nyamhingura Renewal Energy was producing 1, 1 megawatt on Nyamhingura river.
“2,7 megawatts is being produced on Pungwe A project while 2, 2 megawatts are being generated on Duru river. Chisumbanje Green Fuel is generating 18, 3 megawatt while Pungwe B is expected to produce 15, 25 megawatt by this year,” he said.
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