Project Detail

Adoption and Promotion of Renewable Energy Technologies through Construction of a Biogas Digester at Matelile Community Development Centre (MCDC)

The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate and promote renewable energy technologies that are environmentally friendly, through installation of a biogas production system at the Matelile Community Development Centre. The Matelile community depends on biomass for fuel for cooking and heating in an area that is very dry with the result that is badly eroded. Gas and paraffin which are alternatives have become increasingly expensive and unaffordable. The construction of biogas digester for the production of biogas can be adopted as an alternative to biomass and other sources that damage the environment through land degradation and air pollution.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Matelile Tajane Community Development Centre

Country:

Lesotho

Area Of Work:

Multifocal Area

Operational Phase:

OP4 - Y2 (Jul 08 - Jun 09)

Grant Amount:

US$ 22,678.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 15,258.00

Project Number:

LSO/SGP/OP4/Y2/CORE/2009/08

Start Date:

6/2009

End Date:

6/2010

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Project sustainability

Five members of the Trust were involved from the beginning to the end of the biogas digester construction/installation. This was done to train and equip them with skills to run and maintain the system and they are doing it very well. Members of the community are also feeding the system with cow dung from their households to supplement the raw material generated from within the centre.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Matelile-Tajane is locate in the dry part of Lesotho and its inhabitants depend (largely) on biomass for energy. The Matelile-Tajane Community Development Centre already uses solar to meet its lighting and water heating requirements but uses bottled gas for cooking. The projects' main objective is to demonstrate and promote alternative energy technologies that are also enviromentally friendly and that have potential enhance livelihoods.

Capacity - Building Component

Members of the trust will be fully involved in the installation of the biodigester as part of their training to equip them with skills to maintain the system.

Gender Focus

Project involves all groups of society. However, it is envisaged that the technology will be adopted at village level - women and girls will benefit most as they are resposible for fuelwood collection.

Notable Community Participation

Project was conceived and is implemented by the Matelile Tajane Community Development Trust Board, whose membership is derived from local community groups representing villages within the Matelile -Tajane area.

Replication of project activities

Some members of the community have already approched the Centre and requested assistance for installation of the system at their households. Trust planning to apply for another grant from the SGP and also from other donors who may be interested to fund a project for istallation of household size biodigersters wihtinthe Matelile-Tajane area

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project site is a community development centre offering conference facilities to various stakeholders including courses for members of the Community Development Trust. The technology will be demonstrated to all people who come to the centre for services and field/open days will be organized to promoted the technology and to raise public awareness of the global environment.

Project Results

1. A biogas digester installed and functioning well
2. There is increased awareness about biogas production technology among communities in the vicinity of the Centre and everybody who visits the centre for various services
3. Members of the community equipped with skills for construction and maintenance of biogas digesters/systems
4. Centre already making savings as the costs for energy requirements have been reduced. Therefore the Trust will have more funds to plough back into the community
5. Members of the community have started requesting the Centre to assist both financially and tehcnically for installation of biogas digesters at household level

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Indicators

Livehood

Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project 5

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