pengetahuanhijau.com - BIRU (Domestic Biogas), is an activity undertaken by Hivos-Yayasan Rumah Energi (YRE) Consortium in a Program Terang (Light Up Programme) through MCA-Indonesia funding on Window 1B Grant (Green Prosperity Partnership Grant). This activity for sure is intended not only as a mission to save the environment as well as reduce carbon emission induced by agricultural and cattle farming activities, but beyond that is an effort to create a community with energy self-sustainability as well as to enhance community prosperity. BIRU, ins not the first effort undertaken by Hivos-YRE. However, this activity has been planned since 2009. Through MCA Indonesia funding, Hivos-YRE expand the operational areas by prioritising potential areas in the entire Lombok Island untouched by the programme. One of this area is Sembalun Subdistrict, East Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara.

Sembalun is a subdistrict situated in the valley of Mount Rinjani. his subdistrict sits at an altitude of 1,150-1,200 meters above the sea level with its surrounding mountainous panorama. The air is very clean and sun shines brightly and felt very close to the surface. Other than well-known for their typical highland agricultural produce, Sembalun has a total cow population of 7,887 (Indonesian Statistics, 2015). This is a highly potential resources for biogas digester construction in local resident homes. The expectation is, the community will be able to take advantage more than the Domestic Biogas produced for cooking purposes, but also use the gas produced for lighting purposes. Not only that, the community may benefit from the bio slurry produced as organic fertiliser for their farms both in a liquid or a solid form. Organic fertiliser derived from this biogas may be put to use for either private land or sold to other farmers. Total market demand for compost is 15 tons annually. So far, compost has been supplied from sources outside Sembalun as there are such a high demand for this compost especially from potato farmers. Meanwhile, local residents have not been able to meet such demand level. Certainly, this is a business opportunity for the community, not only the opportunity for energy self-sustainability but also the opportunity to enhance the community welfare.

Some of those matters have also been Hivos-YRE’s consideration to organize a Training for Mason Trainee and Supervisor at Sembalun Bumbung Village, Sembalun Subdistrict. 14 representatives of Construction Partners of Hivos-YRE such as Resources and Environment Foundation for Environmental Conservation (YSLPP), Mason Group (MG), Sangkareang MG, Manjadda, and CV. Palapa Abadi attended this training. Out of those 14 participants, 12 have been trained to be a mason while the other 2 have been trained to be supervisors. Training for Mason and Supervisor Trainees will be convened for 7 days between September 2-8, 2016 as well as initiation as mason and supervisor on September 9, 2016.

Mason and supervisor trainees will be prepared to assist the existing 60 masons and 14 supervisors to build 1,600 digester units throughout the operational areas of Light-up Programme (Program Terang) for the next two year period. Sembalun selection as the training location have been greatly welcome by the Subdistrict and Village Administratives. The expectation is, the selection of Sembalun as the training location will enable to transform the community’s mindset as well as expand their knowledge to develop the their potential to be more beneficial. Hence, the village objective to bring the community prosperity and self-sustainability into reality.