MZUZU UNIVERSITY

PROGRESS REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIGHT AGAINST

CLIMATE CHANGE (CHOMA/CHIGWERE BIOGAS PROJECT)
FOR THE PERIOD JULY OCTOBER 2009

SUBMITTED TO

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

LILONGWE, MALAWI

BY

THE TEST AND TRAINING CENTRE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

TECHNOLOGIES (TCRET)

OCTOBER 2009

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIGHT

CHOMA/CHIGWERE BIOGAS PROJECT

AGAINST

CLIMATE

CHANGE

1.0 PROJECT PURPOSE

The purpose of the project is to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions into the
atmosphere through the promotion of use of biogas for cooking instead of charcoal and
firewood. Biogas is a by-product of the decomposition of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria.
It consists of primarily methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and traces of nitrogen, sulphur
compounds, volatile organic compounds and ammonia. It has a heat value arising from its
methane component and may be used directly as a heat or in internal combustion engines.
If biogas were used for cooking instead of firewood and charcoal, a 4m 3 biogas plant would
reduce deforestation by 37 hectares per year. The project will therefore reduce the emissions
of CO2 and CH4 into the atmosphere by promoting the use of biogas for cooking. Subsequently,
the consumption of firewood and charcoal will be reduced and so will be the rate of
deforestation. Biogas technologies also reduce CH 4 emissions from natural decomposing
manure. If more biogas than what is required is produced, it could be bottled and sold in the
city instead of firewood and charcoal. Biogas technology is therefore an important mitigation
measure in the fight against climate change.

2.0 ABSTRACT
This is a fifth progress report on implementation of the Fight against Climate Change-Choma/
Chigwere Biogas Project. It is the second report for the 2009/ 2010 financial year and covers
activities, which have been undertaken in implementing the project from July to October 2009.
The main activities carried out during this period were:

Completing of the construction of four biogas plants;

Initial feeding (with dung) of three biogas plants;

Commissioning of one of the four biogas plants; and

Conducted biogas user training

The funding of the project for the current financial year 2009/ 2010 was made in the month of
August 2009 and the sum amounted to MK5, 978,048.95.00.
The technical work is being undertaken by Mzuzu University staff and some hired labour.
Project supervision is carried out by Mzuzu University staff.
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3.0 PROGRESS REPORT

3.1 Construction of Biogas Plants 2, 3, 4 and 5
Construction work of the four-biogas plants namely: James Chimaliro (Plant 2), Mabvuto
Chimaliro (Plant 3), T.O. Nyirongo (Plant 4) and Dupe Mhlanga (Plant 5) is now complete.
This now makes a total of five biogas plants constructed.

3.2 Dung Collection and Initial Plant Feeding

Initial feeding for plant 4 (T.O. Nyirongo) was done from 28 th August 2009 to 12th September
2009, initial feeding for plant 5 (Dupe Mhlanga) was done from 25th September 2009 to 12th
October 2009 and initial feeding for plant 3 (Mabvuto Chimaliro) started on 21st October
2009 and is continuing.
All the beneficiaries are still collecting dung, which will be contributed towards the feeding
of the biogas plants at James Chimaliro (Plant 2), then Mabvuto Chimaliro (Plant 3). The
project is still, however, providing assistance in the dung collection because the
beneficiaries would not manage to source the required amount of dung for start up (each
plant requires three tonnes of dung for start up).

3.3 Plant Commissioning

Plant 4 (T.O. Nyirongo) was commissioned on the 26th October 2009 and the beneficiaries
have started using the gas for cooking. The gas has been connected to two kitchens. The
performance will be monitored as with the continued monitoring of the demonstration plant.
Plant 5 (Dupe Mhlanga) will be commissioned as soon as enough gas is produced.

3.4 Biogas User Training Course

Members of the technical team conducted biogas user training on the 26 th October 2009 at
Kachikumba Village - where one of the biogas plants has been constructed. The
participants were beneficiaries from T.O. Nyirongo and Dupe Mhlanga biogas plants and
members from within this community. The training was conducted in Tumbuka and
Chichewa.
The material covered included basic theory of biogas, requirements for biogas production,
uses of biogas and its by-product, importance of biogas production in the fight against
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climate and enhanced food production, biogas plant operation and safety. Participants were
also conducted around the biogas plant and the kitchen units where demonstrations were
carried out to emphasis on various points.

3.5 Training
Mr Collen Zalengera attended a four week Environmental Management Course in July
2009. The course was organised by ESAMI and took place in Lilongwe, Malawi.

3.6 Identification of potential Sites for the Construction of Next Eight Biogas Plants
Members of the technical team held several consultative meetings with traditional leaders,
Dairy Farming Associations committee members, dairy farmers and prospective
beneficiaries of the project from within Choma, Doroba and Chigwere Areas. These are
some of the ongoing meetings being carried out during the implementation of this project.
The main objective of these particular meetings was to identify sites for the construction of
the next eight-biogas plants.
The first meeting was held on 7th October 2009 at Kawindula Bulking Centre (with the
people of Chigwere Area) and the second meeting was held on 28 th October 2009 at
Doroba Bulking Centre (with the people of Doroba Area). The last meeting is expected to
take place at Lukonkhowe Bulking Centre on the 4 th November 2009 (with the people of
Choma Area).
During the consultation processes, the communities identified potential beneficiaries after
the technical team briefed them with regards to the requirements of a potential site for a
biogas plant installation. During these two consultations a total of eleven (two from
Chigwere area and nine Doroba area) potential beneficiaries were identified. This number
is in addition to the people who expressed interest during the consultations last year.
The total number is therefore expected to be higher than last year. This is an indication
that interest in the project is increasing all the time.

4.0 UK ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE FOR MALAWI AND MEETING

4.1 LAUNCH OF THE UK ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE FOR MALAWI
BY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC IN MALAWI; RIGHT
HONOURABLE JOYCE BANDA
TCRET attended the launch of the UK Action Plan on Climate Change for Malawi. The Vice
President of the Republic of Malawi; Right Honourable Joyce Banda officially launched the
Action Plan on the 17th September 2009 at the British High Commissioners Residence in
Lilongwe. Various dignitaries including cabinet ministers, members of parliament and
diplomats were amongst those who attended the function.
TCRET made a presentation on the work being carried out on the Choma/ Chigwere
Biogas Project (the presentation was in the form of mounted posters and oral explanation
to the Vice President and the various dignitaries). The presentation generated a great deal
of interest from the various dignitaries.

4.2 MEETING BETWEEN BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION AND TCRET

A meeting was held on the 18 th September 2009 at the British High Commission offices
between TCRET and the donor. Messers Maxon Chitawo, Fredrick Munthali and Lameck
Nkhonjera represented TCRET and Messers Enoch Fulutuna (Chaired the meeting) and
Richard King represented the British High Commission. Highlights of this meeting included
the following:
The chairman thanked Mzuzu University for a well-done presentation during the Official
Launch of the UK Action Plan on Climate Change in Malawi.
The chairman informed the meeting that there will be a Mid-Term Project Evaluation
which could be at the end of this year.
A biogas digester for research will be installed at the University campus. There is need
to explore other feedstock in other areas which can be used in biogas digesters for
rural communities. The research plant will be dedicated for analysing and testing of
different feedstock, their composition, biodegradability, mixing ratios and gas yield. This
will help to come up with different feedstock, thereby reducing reliance only on cow
dung.
The initial feeding of a 3m3 biogas plant requires an enormous amount of fresh dung
(requires a minimum of three tones of fresh cow dung). It is not feasible for a single

household with six cows to collect the initial feed on their own. This would therefore risk
the uptake of the technology by the community once funding has come to an end.
The requirement of a herd of six cows to sustain the daily operation of a 3m 3 biogas
plant is risky. If the number of cows is less than six then there would not be enough
dung for normal operation of the plant.
There are problems amongst households in the community to adopt a communal
cooking systems and communal ownership of the biogas plants. Ideally each would
want to own their own plant.

Changes to the Project Implementation

The following changes were proposed to the project implementation basing on the lessons
learnt as outlined above (these changes have since been approved by the donor):

Reduce the size of the biogas digesters to be constructed in the second phase from
3m3 to 1.5m3. A 1.5m3 would require less feedstock both for initial feeding and for daily
operation. It is envisaged that smaller plants would enhance uptake of the technology
after external funding has come to an end.

Each of the plants will be owned by individual households who will be responsible for
daily operation of the plant. This will enhance ownership of the plant thereby reducing
the risk of plant failure due to social problems in the communal set up.

Eight plants will be constructed (instead of four) in the second phase and six plants
(instead of three) in the third phase) each of capacity 1.5m 3 biogas. This change will
not have any effect on the number of beneficiaries and overall gas yield. The total
number of beneficiaries and the total gas yield will remain the same as projected in
the initial project plan. This will, however, ensure a wider coverage of the area than
the current set up.

5.0 CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECT

The project faced a number of challenges during this period with the main ones being:
Delays in the disbursement of funds for the year 2009/ 2010. This has resulted into a
number of activities being delayed and others not being implemented.
Transport availability is still a problem (university transport has got other pressing
needs). A proposal was therefore forwarded to the donor to include the purchase of two
bicycles in the work plan in order to alleviate this problem. The proposal has since been
approved.
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6.0 FUTURE WORK

Main activities planned for the period, November to December 2009 are as follows:

Feeding and commissioning of Plants 2 and 3.

Members of the technical team accompanied by members of the communities will

inspect and assess the identified potential beneficiaries on the compliance of the
requirements for biogas plant installation.

Construction of the next eight-biogas plants (each of capacity 1.5m 3).

Installation of a research biogas plant at the university.

7.0 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES AND WORK PLAN

The funding of the project for the current financial year 2009/ 2010 was made in the month of
and the sum amounted to MK5, 978,048.95.00. The work plan and the schedule of activities
have therefore been revised to take into account the changes arising from new circumstances
(see Appendix 1 and 2).

8.0 FINANCIAL REPORT

The financial report is attached (See Appendix 3 and 4). The financial report covers the period
from July to October 2009.

9.0 CONCLUSIONS
Commissioning of plants 2, 3 and 5 will be done as soon as the plants are ready.
Construction work of the next eight plants in the Choma, Doroba and Chigwere areas will start
as soon as consultations with the communities are complete and the potential sites have been
identified.

10.0 APPENDICES
Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 attached.