The SNV biogas programme in Asia is getting growing international recognition for its relevance, regional scope and local impact.

At the recent meeting in Singapore on the Energy For All Partnership (E4ALL), initiated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), ADB proudly made a reference to the biogas loan deal in Vietnam, as a good example of matching small scale loan demand (bio digester users) with large scale loans of the Bank. It was mentioned as an example on how partnership can help scaling successful approaches. There are not so many concrete examples in the region.
A chunk of the new US$95 million loan to Vietnam from ADB will be used to provide alternative and clean energy supply to households through biogas development. This demonstrates that SNV Vietnam biogas programme has obtained successful buy-in from third parties.
The demand to learn from SNV successful biogas experience is ever increasing. To further share our knowledge, on 8 & 9th April 2009, SNV organised its 7th network meeting on domestic biogas in Hanoi, Vietnam. A total of 39 persons from 9 different countries in Asia and the Netherlands participated. The main topic of the meeting was training required to assure the quality of the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the biogas plants.
In his opening address, the Director General of the Department of Livestock Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Mr. Hoang Kim Giao shows his appreciation for the SNV supported biogas programme in Vietnam as one of the most successful programmes under MARD. Till date, about 60,000 domestic units have been installed in 38 provinces generating a whole range of benefits to the households and to the country. Another 100,000 units are targeted to be installed in the years to come. Based on the success in Nepal and Vietnam, national programmes on domestic biogas are currently rolled out in other countries in Asia and also in Africa.

In Asia, SNV supported domestic biogas programmes are bringing tangible impact to rural households in five countries (Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Lao PDR). In 2009, SNV is supporting the expansion of the programme to Pakistan and Indonesia. Up mto the end of 2008, 251,500 plants have been constructed in Asia, giving approximately 1.65 million people access to clean cooking fuel, a safer household environment, and bio-manure for crop production.

Asia’s successful experienced has been transferred to Africa. In Rwanda, since May 2007, 220 biogas units have been installed. Biogas activities are starting in new African countries in 2009 (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Senegal and Burkina Faso).
For more information about SNV’s biogas activities, please contact Wim van Nes, Network leader Biogas & Renewable Energy at: wvannes@snvworld.org