In Senegal’s neighborhood of Kaolack, barrels are strategically placed using biogas as a source of fuel for its 20,000 residents. Livestock waste is used to produce energy and locals say it is not only reliable energy, but company provider of the units, Thecogas Sénégal, provides replacement parts for damaged items.
Senegal isn’t the only country turning to biogas. Mauritania and Burkina Faso have begun using the alternative energy to help combat chronic power outages. Although the major obstacle for residents is the initial costs of installations, Senegal has introduced a National Biogas Program that strives to implement subsidies ranging between 35% and 50% of the costs to help residents turn to biogas for electricity generation.
Biogas digesters cost between $800 and $920, and in Dakar alone, around 8,000 biogas digesters are expected to be built by 2013. Burkina Faso is also attempting to subsidize costs while Mauritania said that over the past three years, it has been able to produce biogas for a relatively low price.
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