Pos Kupang - Sunday, 24 June 2012 | 19:31 WITA

POS-KUPANG.COM, TAMBOLAKA - Society of Tambolaka, capital of Southwest Sumba (SBD) Regency, has started to leave kerosene for cooking. They shift to biogas for its economical reason. In present they do not have to buy kerosene; they only need to switch their gas stoves supplied by heat energy from animals' dung like pigs', buffaloes', cows', even humans' instead.

They do not need to worry on gas cylinder explosion for the way biogas works is environment friendly. Animals dung flow into biodigesters to be automatically processed to produce gas for cooking matters and energy for electrical lights.

"With a 12 m3 x 5 m3 sized digester, a housewife can utilize gas stove to cook as much as she likes. This biogas presence can give double advantages for the society; its gas energy for cooking and electricity, while its slurry used for society's plantation fertilizer," explained the Director of Donders Weetabula Foundation, Pater Mikael Keraf C.Ss.R. to Pos Kupang at Weelonda Village, Kota Tambolaka subdistrict, Southwest Sumba, on Tuesday (19/6/2012).

Pater Keraf asked Pos Kupang to see biogas produced by Donders Fondation in partnership with Hivos at Agustinus Deta Rihi's residence by the front of Sinar Buana Weetabula Seminary High School.

Agustinus Deta Rihi stated that within the last month he never bought kerosene or firewood for cooking for he has had gas stove. "At first we could not believe that pig dung can be processed to produce gas and electrical lightings, but now we are so grateful and give our gratitude to Donders Weetabula who had given us something new and useful for our gas and electricity needs," said Deta Rihi.

For electrical lighting needs in particular, as Deta Rihi further said, biogas is only utilized when electricity by PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara/National Electricity Company) off. This biogas presence gives such value for it is able to low either kerosene or firewood needs for cooking expenses down.

Pater Keraf then added that his team has enhanced biogas programme within almost the last year long for its big potential. Most of the society in Southwest Sumba own livestock in large amount. The potential processed and utilized for society's needs. There have been 23 households owning biogas spread over Dikira, East Wewewa subdistrict, Loura, Tambolaka and North Kodi areas until present.

Source: http://kupang.tribunnews.com/