The Hague, 13 December 2007 - SNV and Dutch development bank FMO have joined efforts to provide bio-digesters including micro loans to farmers in Cambodia. Last week a cooperation agreement was signed with local partners in capital Phnom Penh. The use of bio-digesters has been introduced in March 2006 in Cambodia. However, financing of the installations – about 400 US$ - is beyond the financial capacity of a large group of farmers. Through an innovative microfinance program of FMO, the purchase of an installation will be more feasible for them.

With support of SNV more than 220,000 bio-digesters have already been installed in Asia, especially in Nepal and Vietnam. A simple biogas plant can be run by any family with at least two adult cows or four pigs. The family toilet can also be connected to it. Such a plant will generate enough gas to power a cooking stove and a lamp. Unlike firewood, biogas is a clean, quick and comfortable cooking fuel.

In Cambodia 1,200 bio-digesters have been installed already on cash-basis. This number will now rapidly increase with the attractive loan scheme FMO is providing through PRASAC, a Cambodian micro-finance institute. The National Biodigester Programme (NBP) will provide technical support. It is expected that 17,500 plants will be installed in Cambodia in the coming years.