Biomass Programme  in Bangladesh ::

BIOMASS INTERVENTION:

In 1972 Bangladesh entered into the arena of biogas technology through the first demonstration biogas plant by Dr. M A Karim at Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU), Mymensingh campus. This plant was floating-dome type and the size was 3 cubic meter. Later on, another plant was constructed (210 cft digester volume) to serve the purpose of lighting and cooking for a family of 6 members.

In 1974, another plant was constructed at Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Comilla.

In 1976, IFRD constructed a family-size biogas plant at BCSIR campus at cost of TK 12,000. In 1980, another plant was setup in KBM College, Dinajpur at a cost of TK 15,000. After reduction of cost to Tk. 3000 (now raised to Tk. 10,000 because of price increase of materials ) requests from well-to-do farmers for this cheaper model have started pouring in. At the request of the owners , the experts of IFRD help set up the plants, the entire cost being borne by the owners. Over seventy gas plants of this model were installed entirely at the cost of the owners. With a view to speeding up the dissemination, the IFRD has introduced two-week-long training courses on construction, operation and maintenance of biogas plants. 60 nominees from Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), the World Bank and NGOs have been trained. These trainees motivate the people and help set up biogas plants in consultation with the experts of the IFRD.

In 1980, in order to extend bio-gas technology, a department named Environmental Pollution Control Department (EPCD) was established.

In 1981, Department of Environment (DOE) started the programme under a government grant and installed 110 plants of fixed-dome model and over 150 plants of floating - dome type through hired contractors. All the plants were supplied free of cost.

Meanwhile, 24 district level officers of BSCIC were trained in the IFRD and through these trained personnel, BSCIC introduced a number of plants , the construction cost being borne by the owners. DANIDA temporarily supported installation of a few trench and bag type digesters.

In 1985, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), under the initiative of its Chief Engineer, Quamrul Islam Siddique, started study, research, development and extension of bio-gas technology.

In 1986, LGED constructed its first bio-gas plant at Kurigram and arranged a seminar there which was attended by about 300 engineers, scientists and interested persons from different places.

Iin 1992, the IFRD of BCSIR in collaboration with Dhaka City Corporation built an experimental biogas plant of 85 cubic meter digester volume at Dholpur for treatment of city garbage. Charging of 52.5 tons of garbage produced 2000 cft biogas/day on the average over a period of two months and 40 tons of residue (biofertilizer) rich in plant nutrients. The residue had no odor.

In June 1992, LGED constructed first Chinese-type fixed-dome model bio-gas plant in Karimpur village of Begumgonj, Noakhali. In the same year LGED also constructed the first biogas plant from night soil at Faridpur Muslim Mission.

In 1993, LGED constructed the first biogas plant from water hyacinth at Madaripur.

In 1994, LGED constructed the first biogas plant from poultry droppings at Utter Khan, Dhaka and garbage-based biogas plant at 10 towns. At the end of 1994, LGED constructed about 200 biogas plants out of which eight were floating-dome type and the rest were fixed-dome type. Among the plants 73 were based on night soil, one based on water hyacinth, two based on poultry droppings, 23 based on garbage and the rest were based on cow dung.

The Key stakeholders in Biomass Technology application of Bangladesh :

Potential stakeholders for a national programme on domestic biogas in Bangladesh, divided into government, civil sector and private sector organizations. Bangladesh is endowed with an impressive number and variety of institutes, organizations and companies. Besides these described below, many more could be called upon to participate in the implementation of a national programme on domestic biogas. This organizational richness can be regarded as a very positive starting point for such a programme and makes the establishment of a separate programme office unnecessary.

Organizations involved in the dissemination of biogas plants in Bangladesh and number of plants installed: