Nairobi:
*Winners of **the Empowering People Award **will be announced at the Award
Ceremony on October 30th, 2013 in Nairobi and will receive a total prize
money of 100,000 EUR***
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An affordable, easy-to-use system that converts livestock waste into energy
– biogas – is seeing Tanzanian smallholdings spend less on fuel and yield
bigger, better crops. ****
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The system – known as GesiShamba or Farm Gas – uses manure and organic
waste to produce gas for cooking, while its effluent is used as an organic
fertiliser, boosting crop production. ****
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GesiShamba is one of 23 innovations selected out of 800 projects world-wide
and now stands the chance of winning a global innovation award. ****
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The international competition – the Empowering People Award – aims to
identify the most promising technological solutions and products suitable
to solving problems of basic supply in developing countries. The Award is
an initiative of the Siemens Stiftung. Winners will be announced at the
Award Ceremony on October 30th, 2013 in Nairobi and will receive a total
prize money of 100,000 EUR. ****
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GesiShamba is an invention of the Dutch organisation SimGas which has
joined forces with a local partner in Tanzania to produce and distribute
the biogas system locally. ****
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SimGas Tanzania Ltd. was established as a joint venture between SimGas and
Silafrica. ****
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A lot of research took place in Tanzania, and other parts of East Africa,
where smallholder farming accounts for about 75% of agricultural production
and over 75% of employment. ****
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GesiShamba is designed for rural households that own up to just ten cattle
and produce some crops for food. Typically, smallholders who keep livestock
often do not have access to technologies and energy, and spend a large
proportion of their income on wood or charcoal for fuel. ****
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SimGas says their local partner in Tanzania is a perfect fit because of its
experience in the local plastics industry, and their commitment to the
project. GesiShamba is mass-produced which reduces material costs and aides
transport and installation processes. ****
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GesiShamba was first introduced in Tanzania about 18 months ago, and many
smallholdings that invested in the innovative biogas system are now reaping
huge benefits. The cost of a 2×15 m3 Gesishamba biogas system is earned
back within 18 months. ****
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While biogas systems are available in Tanzania, there are typically
expensive, time-consuming, difficult to use and require regular
maintenance. The GesiShamba biogas system is made up of segments, can be
made bigger or smaller, and is easy to install and maintain. ****
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There is a high demand for innovative, affordable energy solutions in
Tanzania. Biogas is a clean, cheap power source and unlike wood and
charcoal it does not adversely affect indoor cleanliness and air quality. **
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Customers receive comprehensive training, are provided with a printed
manual that describes the system in pictures and diagrams and there is a
customer care centre that helps with questions and problems. ****
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SimGas Tanzania Ltd has created over 50 jobs in marketing, sales, back
office, administration, installation, product quality control and support
staff.****
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Other important spin-offs of the GesiShamba system include reduced
deforestation, reduced carbon emissions, less health problems from indoor
air pollution, increased crop production, and improvement in livelihood. **
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With deforestation being one of the major environmental issues in Africa,
it is a great challenge to find sources of fuel which meet household energy
requirements. Biogas technology, which converts biological waste from
livestock into energy, is considered to be the most suitable tool for the
supply of energy in these areas. ****
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The replacement of solid cooking fuels by biogas results in a carbon
emission reduction of at least 6-8 tonnes CO2-equivalent per year per
system. This in turn makes a significant contribution to the reduction of
deforestation. ****
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Due to a healthier living environment, a household can also reduce health
care expenses. ****
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Other entries in the Empowering People Award include a backpack for
transporting biogas, solar-powered water purifiers, a fish farm in a
shipping container and an all-terrain wheelchair made from bicycle parts.***
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*ENDS *
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