Biogas programme wins 2012 Humanitarian Award
HA NOI – (VNS) Viet Nam's biogas programme for the animal husbandry sector was today recognised with the Humanitarian Award at the World Energy Forum (WEF) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
In announcing the award, the WEF said the humanitarian value of the biogas programme lies in its capacity to improve income and living standards for low income rural people by effectively leveraging the social, economic and environmental benefits of biogas and bio-slurry to develop a commercially viable and sustainable biogas sector.
The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Livestock Production Department in co-operation with Netherlands Development Organisation.
Launched in 2007, the second phase of the programme has seen almost 85,000 digesters built, lifting the overall number of biogas digesters to 130,000. This has created employment for more than 5,700 masons and improved the lives of more than 650,000 people by providing them with a clean, safe and sustainable energy source.
The programme also provides community education on sustainability and renewable energy concepts, helping to ensure the long term commercial viability of the national biogas sector.
The WEF, held on October 22-24, honours the hard work, dedication, and commitment that individuals and organisations have demonstrated in the energy sector. The WEF awards categories for 2012 include humanitarian, technology innovation, best practice, environment, policy, and women in energy. – VNS