The New Nation - Internet Edition

THIRTY-two thousand biogas plants have been installed in the country out of which Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD) has established twenty-two thousand. 25 other organisations are involved in the expansion of the biogas technology. Among them, Grameen Shakti alone shares more than 60 percent of the biogas plants. According to media reports, GS has so far installed 4,500 plants and has set a target of establishing five lakh units across the country by 2012.

Biogas plants are self-reliant energy systems using locally made and easy to operate equipment. Biogas is economically and environmentally sustainable. These plants use raw materials like cow dung, poultry droppings, hyacinth and night soil to produce gas. Their operation costs are minimal and thus is affordable for the common people. This gas serves as an alternative to fuel wood. Other than cooking, it is used for lighting rooms with gas lantern and generating electricity for household appliances like light, fan, radio, television and even irrigation pumps. The by-product of the plants is used as organic fertiliser.

Efforts must be made to connect maximum number of households to biogas systems. The energy and power scenario in the country is in an alarming state. The proven reserve of gas is supposed to exhaust in another three years. In that case, power production and industries will seriously be affected. The coal that could meet a large part of the energy need of the country is still to be extracted. The authorities should therefore plan for using solar energy, wind power and tidal energy for producing electricity. These resources are inexhaustible and constantly renewable. One advantage of producing electricity from renewable energy sources is that no transmission line is needed.