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Article: Nepal brings clean bio-energy to rural communities.(ENVIRONMENTAL INTELLIGENCE)
- Article from:
- World Watch
- Article date:
- January 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Worldwatch Institute. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Rural communities in Nepal are now harvesting cow dung to process into biogas, thanks to an innovative program being implemented in 66 of the country's 75 districts. The Biogas Support Programme (BSP), founded in 1992, supports the construction of household-scale "digesters" that use bacteria to break down the dung in airless conditions, producing a clean, smokeless gas.
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A striking contrast to development projects stalled by the 10-year Maoist insurgency, the BSP has lit 140,000 Nepalese kitchens to date, saving an estimated 400,000 tons of firewood and 800,000 liters of kerosene. It has also helped reduce the respiratory problems ...