Malang District, SeputarMalang.Com – At the time amidst the sharp increase of LPG, especially the 12 kg-capacity tank, a large number of people have migrated to 3 kg-capacity tank. On the other hand, the 3 kg LPG is a subsidized product. The sharp increase in the product demand has driven the price up while the supply is dwindling. In some areas in Malang Raya, the price of 3 kg-capacity LPG has reached between Rp 17 to Rp 20 thousands, while the normal price is Rp 15 thousands. The price increase has invited complaints from housewives as Nunuk, a housewife who lives in Kendalpayak area, Pakisaji sub district, Malang District.

The condition of LPG price increase and declining supplies of the commodity however has not affected the community in Bendosari Village, a village which has claimed itself as an Energy Self-Sufficient Village fueled by Biogas and electricty supplied by Micro Hydro Power Plant.

Bendosari Village is situated at Pujon Sub District, Malang District westward of Kota Batu. The village population of 3,915 are scattered in five smaller villages which hold various natural riches which are both pristine and highly enchanting. Additionally, the tradition and culture of farming and livestock breeding community are highly diversed and awaiting further exploration.

According to Khairun, the Bendosari Village Head, majority of his people are dairy cattle farmers who have developed the technology of cattle waste management using a biogas system. The abundance of cattle manures have given a great deal of benefit for the community hence they no longer need to spend their money to purchase LPG gas to cook and are able to minimize their electricity bills as well as able to utilize the excess of biogas treatment into a organic fertilizer.

The monitoring team of SeputarMalang.com visiting this village, observed that majority of the village inhabitants have their own cattles, especially dairy cattles. By utilizing the availability of cow manures, the residents build biogas installation, with a construction costs ranging between Rp 800 thousand – Rp 2 millions.

Taji, a resident of Bendosari village, said that the introduction of biogas technology has turned the expenses related to cooking purposes relatively affordable for they no longer rely on firewood, kerosene, let alone LPG. Taji further mentioned, that they fill the benefit of biogas even more as the source for lighting especially during electricity blackout by PT. PLN (Persero).

In addition to energy saving benefit, utilizing biogas has also provided an added benefit of cleaner cattle shades/corral. This is due to the immediate removal of cattle manure as the raw material for biogas production. Cleaner cattle pen have lead to healthier cattles. Equally interesting is the utilization of cattle manures as the excess of biogas production process in the form of liquid organic fertilizer, Taji added.

What about the detailed process? You could observe the process while visiting an ecotourism village of Bendosari.