The Food and Agriculture Organisation study on Small-Scale Bioenergy Initiatives looked at one operation in Tanzania that was using sissal waste for biogas and biofertiliser. The SISO Project benefited 1,000 families with incomes and electricity through the grid.
Lying on the Coast of Tanzania, bordering Kenya, Tanga Region has a population of around 1.7million, with a growth rate in population from 1998-2002 of 1.8% and a population density of 60 persons per square kilometre. The population of Tanga Region has been increasing since 1957, and as a result of high population density, forests have become endangered and wood scarce. The increasing need for income and food is not matched by increased economic development or food production.
Sisal is the most important cash crop, used to produce yarns, ropes, carpets, clothing and composites, and sold to the domestic and international markets. Since 1999 Katani Ltd, a sisal growing company, has developed a system of smallholder and out-grower sisal farming, on land owned by the company and in the surrounding areas. Katani has developed the first biogas plant in the world to convert sisal biomass to biogas. This is used to run electricity generators which power production machinery, with excess electricity supplied to out-growers/smallholders homes, schools and hospitals.
Organic fertiliser is produced as a by-product, process heat is used for drying fibre and could be used to dry paper made from sisal pulp. Using current production methods, only 4% of the actual plant is recovered as fibre. The residue was either burnt, producing carbon dioxide, or rotted naturally, producing methane. The use of sisal waste for bio-energy is thus environmentally beneficial. Converting the waste to biogas increases the profit to farmers, since 80% of the plant mass is suitable for biogas production.
Investment for a biogas project came from The Common Fund for Commodities (UN Body) US$ 927,712; UNIDO US$ 225,600; and the Tanzanian Government US$ 350,000, during phase one of the pilot plant. Ongoing financing is received from government and external agencies. The project is managed by UNIDO and a 16-member coordinating committee with representation from the FAO, CFC, UNIDO, TSB, Katani Limited, the Sisal Association of Tanzania (SAT) and relevant government ministries. The biogas project is profitable and Katani Ltd plans to provide local accessto low cost bioenergy via a system of mini grids from their biogas plants. Funds are being sought to undertake the work and plans are under development.
Sisal is the most important cash crop, used to produce yarns, ropes, carpets, clothing and composites, and sold to the domestic and international markets. Since 1999 Katani Ltd, a sisal growing company, has developed a system of smallholder and out-grower sisal farming, on land owned by the company and in the surrounding areas. Katani has developed the first biogas plant in the world to convert sisal biomass to biogas. This is used to run electricity generators which power production machinery, with excess electricity supplied to out-growers/smallholders homes, schools and hospitals.
Organic fertiliser is produced as a by-product, process heat is used for drying fibre and could be used to dry paper made from sisal pulp. Using current production methods, only 4% of the actual plant is recovered as fibre. The residue was either burnt, producing carbon dioxide, or rotted naturally, producing methane. The use of sisal waste for bio-energy is thus environmentally beneficial. Converting the waste to biogas increases the profit to farmers, since 80% of the plant mass is suitable for biogas production.
Investment for a biogas project came from The Common Fund for Commodities (UN Body) US$ 927,712; UNIDO US$ 225,600; and the Tanzanian Government US$ 350,000, during phase one of the pilot plant. Ongoing financing is received from government and external agencies. The project is managed by UNIDO and a 16-member coordinating committee with representation from the FAO, CFC, UNIDO, TSB, Katani Limited, the Sisal Association of Tanzania (SAT) and relevant government ministries. The biogas project is profitable and Katani Ltd plans to provide local accessto low cost bioenergy via a system of mini grids from their biogas plants. Funds are being sought to undertake the work and plans are under development.
