Chronicle EditorPatrick Chitumba, [email protected]
THE RURAL Electrification Fund’s biogas digesters project is making steady progress in the Midlands province where Anderson High School on the outskirts of Gweru has become the latest beneficiary of two digesters, courtesy of the Government.
The initiative is a key component of the Second Republic’s Vision 2030 accelerator model, aiming to provide rural communities with alternative energy sources beyond the national grid and solar power.
As part of the Government’s inclusive development approach and rural industrialisation strategy, the biogas digesters project aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 7, promoting affordable and clean energy while fostering a clean and safe environment.
A biogas digester, also known as an anaerobic digester, has several advantages, which include converting organic waste into a source of renewable energy source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change thereby reducing waste disposal costs and environmental pollution.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Owen Ncube, and other senior Government officials recently visited the biogas project which is expected to harness energy from bio-material.
Midlands Provincial Rural Electrification Agency manager, Engineer Silba Zimwara, said one digester had been completed at Anderson High School.
“We are confident of finishing the next digester by the end of next month. We started this project in June and the timeframe should be 50 days, so we should be done by the end of September,” she said.
Eng Zimwara said they have similar projects at Hama High School in Chirumhanzu and Pakame High School in Shurugwi.
Anderson High School headmaster, Mr Caxton Mukasvanga commended the Government for the life-changing project.
“We would like to thank the Government for coming up with this noble project. Our electricity bills will certainly go down. This means that our school fees will also go down thereby lessening the burden on the parents. The biogas digesters will also produce water, which we will use for our gardening and fisheries,” he said.
Mr Mukasvanga said they were visited by REA officials at the beginning of this year to inform them that the school had been selected for the biogas project.
“We were very thrilled but still could not believe the news. In June, the REA team came again to inform us that REA had set aside ZiG400 000 for the construction of our two biogas plants, one for the boys and another for the girls’ dormitories,” he said.
Mr Mukasvanga said the school was then asked to provide concrete stones, river and pit sand as well as dig the biogas pits while REA which is constructing the digesters, is providing the rest of the materials.
“REA will also provide all the pipes to the kitchen and a four-plate gas stove,” he said.
Mr Mukasvanga said they have been having problems with their septic tanks filling up such that during the first term, the school had to pay Gweru City Council to bring their Honey Sucker and empty the septic tanks at the girls’ dormitory.
“We will use the gas produced by the digesters for cooking, the water is then used for irrigating lawns and crops in our garden.
“The same water can be used for feeding fish in our fishponds,” he said.
Mr Mukasvanga said extra stuff from the digester can be dried and used as manure.
Biogas can be used for cooking, heating and electricity generation, providing a reliable and sustainable energy supply and can convert manure into a valuable fertiliser thereby improving soil fertility and reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers.
Online Reporter