State biogas ventures have failed compared with huge strides by Sri Lanka’s private sector
The deliberations and revelations at a workshop on ‘Up-scaling Biogas Technology for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Mitigation in Sri Lanka’ (UBTSDCCMSL) point to the failure of state sponsored programmes on biogas. The workshop was held at the BMICH, this week.
Srimal Tissera, MD/Consultant/Environmentalist, Fagor-Export and Import (Pvt) Ltd, told the forum that this type of workshops would become a big joke (Loku Vihiluwak) as they would meet once a year or so, eat and drink and go. Then again they meet and do the same thing over and over again without any tangible results.
The UBTSDCCMSL is part of “The News EU ( European Union) Switch Asia Initiative on Mitigating Climate Change and Promoting Economic Growth Through Biogas” with funds of Euro 665,000 from EU implemented through People in Need’ in collaboration with the Sri Lankan partner – Janathakshan to be executed within 2014 and 2016. Since 2009, EU is providing 6 million Euro for projects targeting SMEs, consumers and public authorities through its Switch-Asia Programme, in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Tissera said that biogas production in Sri Lanka is not properly focused. Though extensive work towards biogas has been carried out since 1970s by institutions like NERD (National Engineering and Research Development Centre) and other state agencies, they have virtually failed.
The stubbornness and lacklustre attitude of state agencies towards biogas could be illustrated when one considers the project carried out by the NERD Centre in Welisara spending around Rs. 5 million – a 2 ½ acre land was provided for this biogas project by the Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) concerned and when PS leadership was changed, he said that they have refused to provide garbage to operate the units and in fact for the inauguration, garbage had to be purchased.
There are about 10 such large biogas projects installed through state agencies, but nine are already defunct and only the one that is installed to recycle garbage in Polonnaruwa where earlier these garbage was consumed by wild elephants, resulted in some deaths of these elephants.
Biogas in Sri Lanka has been introduced, he said for lower income or poor people whereas it has been a multi dimensional – large, medium and small – elsewhere in the world and thus refocusing the whole concept in Sri Lanka is fundamental.He said that in Sri Lanka many biogas projects have been undertaken by the private sector and they are tremendously successful. He too has been involved in the biogas sector for a long time and the business is very successful, he said. Therefore, he urged everyone who are involved to be committed and to make a concerted effort, rather than “Meeka digatama mahaa vihiluwak, loku boruwak wenawaa” (not to continue to be a big farce).
Athula Jayamanne, Consultant Engineer/MD, Eco-Engineers and Co, made a stunning exposure of how state agencies discourage them when he said that they were to start a large scale project – a project of Rs 10 million, they had to wait for two years to get the approval.
He said that these authorities told him that everybody would not be able to undertake such project, not even the Malaysian experts.
He said he did the project very successfully and even the Malaysian experts were surprised and he is so recognised by Malaysia that when Malaysian experts conduct exhibitions on biogas he is provided a free stall.
Through biogas production, he said that they have got latest inventions on wastewater treatment technology, they have become experts on waste water treatment with local patent and now they have applied for international patents.
In a way ridiculing the Sri Lankan authorities, Mr. Jayamanne said they are involved in some wastewater treatment in India and they are involved in rubber factories and coconut mills. India has been involved in a lot of research on wastewater treatment but as they failed, he said that the projects were awarded to him and they are now involved in them in India. He said that Indian industrialists are so interested as Mr. Tissera said because the technology is so good.
Damith Samarakoon, Project Manager, Energy Unit, Janathakshan explained how biogas production could be made successfully on a small scale even for households, using the garbage and other waste matter, which could provide energy and keep the environment clean.
Ranahansa Dasanayake, International Project Manager, Iafas, University of Prier, Germany who are involved in biogas projects in Sri Lanka said that they have experience in the successful implementation of small scale projects in some African countries where they are community based rather than large scale.
He said that in Germany many retired people and teachers are involved in producing biogas to earn money and ensure a clean environment. He said that those projects in that country are sustainable and triple bottom line profitable.
He said that going through the presentations made by the successful biogas producers, the technology used in Sri Lanka is fine. He said that they are prepared to help provided the projects are sustainable and earn profits.
Some officials from financial institutions were also present to make a study as to how they could progressively help the biogas industry in Sri Lanka.