Islamabad - On Tuesday 1st of December the Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation, Mr. Bert Koenders, marked an important step in the development of biogas for rural households in Pakistan. Together with the Chairman of the Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN), Mr. Sohaib Sultan Khan, an agreement was signed on the Dutch financial contribution, amounting to some three million Euro, for the implementation of the Pakistan Domestic Biogas Programme by RSPN.
The Pakistan Domestic Biogas Programme (PDBP) aims to install 30,000 biogas plants by 2013, providing a sustainable source of energy for rural households with livestock. Equally important, the programme facilitates in the development of a commercially-viable domestic biogas sector.
After a feasibility study in 2007, a plan was prepared in 2008 based on which SNV supported RSPN to initiate a pilot programme in January 2009. In the meantime SNV amplified its efforts for mobilisation of funds needed for implementing the programme beyond 2009, including a stakeholder meeting in June in Islamabad, and that ultimately resulted in Dutch government funding.
In this initiative SNV provides capacity building support to RSPN through advisory services and by applying a 'multi-stakeholder sector development approach'. Different programme functions, such as training, promotion, construction, and quality control form part of the national biogas programme in the country.
Read more about the Pakistan Domestic Biogas programme
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