Every year, over a million children under 5 die from indoor pollution caused by burning firewood and charcoal based fuels. Since half of the world’s population still depends on fossil fuels for cooking, 80% of the earth’s natural forests have been destroyed.

Many poor families in developing countries are now transforming their lives by investing in a biodigester, where animal and human wastes are processed. The gas produced provides a clean and renewable source of energy for cooking and lighting.

SNV advisors train and advise government, private sector and civil society partners, on how to establish commercially-viable biogas sectors.

Since 2006, SNV has been providing advisory support to the National Biodigester Program (NBP) in Cambodia. By the end of 2010, 10,000 plants are expected to be up and running.

Surveys show that biogas users are very satisfied: biogas causes no indoor air pollution, it provides clean cooking energy, contributes to health improvement and reduces the time needed for fuel collection.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) granted EUR 2.2 million to the NBP in Cambodia for a period of two years. This funding will allow the programme to extend to four provinces with high domestic biogas potential. These provinces are situated around the Tonle Sap Lake, an area famous for its biodiversity.

Biogas production can minimise threats to this ecosystem as the demand for fuel wood will decrease. Siem Reap in particular is very promising for domestic biodigester development. The province has Cambodia’s fourth largest agricultural output, with approximately 70,000 households owning cattle and/or buffalo and an additional 65,000 families raising pigs.

For more information:

• National Biodigester Programme
• Renewable energy at SNV
• Renewable energy factsheet (PDF)
• SNV contact form