Rwanda is to begin converting Biogas to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), a more environment friendly product that will be used as a fuel for vehicles and for cooking.

This was revealed by Edouard Ndayisaba, the Managing Director of CRET Sarl, a local company dealing in biogas technology. He did not disclose the time when this will be implemented.

In an interview with The Business Times, Ndayisaba revealed that his company is venturing into production of CNG after successfully dealing in installation of Biogas plants in the country for almost four years. This will be the first company in the region to convert biogas into CNG.

He said: "Energy supply is still low. Biogas that is currently produced is mainly used for light. This will serve as a reliable alternative source of energy.

"We are focusing on the regular demand of fuel for vehicles and for cooking, as well as a significant growth cleaning and gardening services in Kigali City.”

Ndayisaba also underscored that biogas recovery has the triple advantage of producing clean heat and electricity, reducing the impact of organic waste on the environment.

A product of cow dung, sewage, and sludge, biogas is a source of renewable energy that originates from methane producing bacteria in the process of bio-degradation of organic material under anaerobic conditions.

It has 60 percent of methane content and 40 percent of carbon dioxide and can be purified to match CNG standards by use of advanced technologies.

Ndayisaba pointed out that all the products from compressed biogas are costly accessible including recycled water and fertilizers.

"This project needs sound economic means. We need a strong partner to implement it as soon as possible,” Ndayisaba said.

The company said it will require a financial outlay of between $700,000 (Rwf397 million) and $800000 (Rwf454 million) for building bio-digesters for a period of nine months.

The CEO also said that they still need financial support to acquire the technology of compressing biogas and bottle it into cylinders.

CRET estimates that after the construction of bio-digesters, it will produce about 1400kgs of compressed electricity a day.

Ndayisaba also mentioned that they have found a partner from India to provide technical assistance to the project. India is one of the pioneers of the use of compressed Biogas for fuel. 

While the biogas industry is increasing in Rwanda, Ndayisaba noted, compressed gas has not yet been produced. Currently, there are about 10 new companies in the construction and installation of biogas plants.

Since 2006, CRET has installed more than 40 household, community and institutional biogas plants.

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