EBTKE - To achieve self-determining energy in Yogyakarta and Central Java, BIRU (Domestic Biogas) Programme along with Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation – Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will hold coordination and implementation seminar at Saphir Hotel, Thursday, September 8th 2011. The seminar shall be attended by interrelated government officials from nine provinces in Sumatera and four provinces in Java. Director of bio-energy from Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE), Maritje Hutapea, states, "Through this seminar, the implementation progress of BIRU Programme shall be evaluated, particularly to see how far biogas effects the execution of society's energy needs. Various technical matters will also be evaluated to see if they have been appropriate and sufficient, remarkably on tools, operational system and maintenance. This seminar will also be utilized as social forum towards other region governances to replicate this biodigester in their areas."

In the meantime, BIRU Programme Manager Robert de Groot explained the relevance and importance of synergy between government in new renewable energy sector with all level users of BIRU programme in supporting the ongoing biogas sector development in Indonesia.

This programme carried out by Hivos and SNV in coordination with DJEBTKE, funded by The Kingdom of the Netherlands, and shall be held in West Java, Central Java, Special Region of Yogyakarta, East Java, Bali, Lombok, South Sulawesi and NTT. The programme has been implemented in Central Java and Special Region of Yogyakarta since November 2009, facing various challenges within its development. "One of the challenges is the difficulty in giving attainable credit access to breeders as BIRU Programme targets," said Groot, "Thus through the accessible credits for either individual and group farmers, BIRU programme could carry on better."

Hutapea then added, "We do welcome the implementation of this BIRU programme and hope biogas enhancement in Indonesia could apply financial support mechanism like BIRU Programme do, not with grant by APBN as done before. The mechanism done by BIRU programme would have created strong sense of belonging in the society."

BIRU Programme also encourages utmost waste management, not only for biogas but also bio-slurry. "Using Biogas caused economical frugal. I usually used 3 gas cylinder sized 30 kg for a month. Now I don't buy it anymore," said Yusmin, a domestic Biogas user from Semarang. "I use biogas-slurry as fertilizer for paddy field. I no longer worry if the fertilizer prize increases," said Aisyah in Bantul.

Through BIRU Programme, Hivos gives IDR 2 million worth of subsidy per digester in tools as substitute for cash. Started on August 31st 2011, two hundred and eighty four digesters have been built in Central Java and Special Region of Yogyakarta and more than two hundred families are in line to put up BIRU. Until December 2012 two thousand digesters in minimum are targeted to be built in those two provinces.

Source : www.ebtke.esdm.go.id