Since 2005, SNV has been providing advisory support to the National Biodigester Program (NBP). NBP has been declared a priority program by the Royal Government of Cambodia, because it addresses serious concerns of farmer households: increased access to environmentally friendly and safe-economical renewable energy.
Although no impact study has been carried out, the bio user survey reveals great satisfaction among biogas users with the facilities provided. Users are satisfied with the energy supplied as well as with the reduced workload, the healthier environment and the ease of the gas for cooking and lighting. Bio slurry use is likely to have more impact in the years to come, with better understanding of its use and potential advantages.
The access to loans for biodigester construction is an important development for farmers, particularly the poorer sections among them, as it lowers the threshold for farmers to engage in construction. Directly after the facility became operational, the demand for plant construction increased dramatically.
With SNV’s support, in 2007, 1150 biodigesters were constructed in the seven target provinces – Kampong Cham, Kandal, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chnang, and Kampot. In most of the provinces the Provincial Biodigester Programme Office is the main implementing agency. In Kampong Chhnang the program is operated by the Department of Agriculture while in Kampot the implementer is CEDAC, a national NGO. Currently the program is being expanded to Prey Veng province.
Financing of the biodigesters construction consists of a subsidy part and a contribution from farmers. The transfer of subsidy from the NBP account to the farmers is done through ACLEDA Bank, with whom the NBP has set up a subsidy fund distribution system. With the start of the credit programme at the end of 2007, a similar set-up was made with PRASAC-MFI. Plants constructed without the special biodigester credit still get their subsidy via ACLEDA while the subsidy for credit plants is channeled via PRASAC. Up to December 2007 subsidy was paid for 1104 plants of which 130 were credit plants.
As the programme is new in the country, a large part of the training is targeted at implementers to introduce appropriate technology and market oriented dissemination approach. Training is a core activity. The training activities can be divided into two categories:
More detailed information about the Biodigester Programme can be found at www.nbp.org.kh