Africa-Press – Botswana. The Department of Energy has capacitated 11 people in Boteti to build bio-digesters for production of bio-gas toward attainment of reducing global warming.
During a demonstration session in Letlhakane recently, Principal Energy Engineer, Mr Edwin Khethiwe said government was in support of global transition to green energy. Taking the village leadership through Ms Omaatla Mmouta’s bio-gas project and how it operates, Mr Khethiwe indicated that the bio-gas digester was more efficient. He said government’s commitment to green energy transition was premised on the recognition of the urgent need to address climate change and reduce global warming.
The implementation of the programme is through the private sector, which provided an opportunity for ensuring a shared responsibility and empowerment of locals. To demonstrate the commitment, the government has set ambitious targets for increasing contribution of renewable energy to 30 per cent by 2030, as well as reducing carbon emissions to 15 per cent by the same year.
The commitment reflected understanding of the responsibility to safeguard the planet for future generations and underscored dedication to being part of the global green energy solutions. Mr Khethiwe stated that technology used only fresh cow dung or anything bio-degradable and the costs of materials for building the bio-digester stood at around P30 000.
Senior Engineer at the Department of Mines, Mr Tumisang Ruda said a bio-gas digester comprised four components being an inlet, retention component, expansion chamber and an outlet. Mr Ruda indicated that the walls of the digester should be made in four layers to ensure that gas does not escape. He said the outlet should be empty at all times while the manure produced in the outlet could be used packaged for use in the garden.
He indicated that the manure produced was of high quality with high nitrogen content. Mr Ruda explained that retention of cow dung in the digester should take 30 days and the initial feed had to be filled with up to 4000 litres of cow dung. He said the level of cow dung in the digester was measured using a gauge, noting that the more cow dung was added the more pressure increased. Mr Ruda further indicated that the gas produced could not be compressed but storage sacks were used to store it.
He said the bio-gas could be used in any stove but would require modification on the nozzle as it was of low pressure. The utilisation of bio-gas is primarily for cooking, heating and lighting. The stove compatible for the gas is a low pressure stove available in local stores. Buuhe Ward counciLlor, Monkgogi Gakebabone said it was important to use bio-gas in schools to cut costs, urging the public to use it in their farms and homes as well.
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