The environmental office of Kulon Progo district, Yogyakarta province, is promoting the use of biogas as an alternative energy to replace fossil fuels whose prices have soared drastically, a local official said.
The head of Kulon Progo district’s Environmental Office, Djunianto said here Thursday the office continued to encourage the local people who have livestock and tofu industry to take advantage of alternative energy by constructing bio-digesters.
“In addition to reducing air, soil and water pollution, the bio-digester alternative technology can save expenses for the purchase of gas or fuel oil whose prices continue to rise,” Djunianto said.
According to him, the making of bio-gas only requires cattle or buffaloes.
The Kulon Progo environmental office will provide stimulant funding and guidance, he said.
“Creating biogas with bio-digesters is very easy so that the local people can make their own devices and operate them easily. The office will continue to provide guidance,” Djunianto said.
According to him, the number of bio-digesters in Kulon Progo reached 136 units. The alternative energy has been developed since 2008.
Meanwhile, the number of people who built bio-digesters independently also continued to grow until they are able to have 200 units of equipment, scattered throughout Kulon Progo district.
“The construction of the alternative energy tools from the funds budgeted by the Ministry of Environment through Special Allocation Fund each year,” he said.
The districts to become bio-digester pilot project areas are Lendah, Panjatan, Temon, Wates, Pengawasih and Galur. For this year, the office will provide Rp388 million to build 21 units earmarked for the underprivileged families and have cows or a buffaloes, Djunianto explained.
“It is planned that each unit spent Rp18 million which is used for three families. For that, each unit requires three to four cows by using the manure as raw materials for the manufacturer of this alternative energy,” he said.
The other areas in Kulon Progo which are also developing bio-gas are Pendoworejo village, Girimulyo district. The number of bio-digesters in this area has reached to 160 units.
“One village using biodigesters built with aid from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in 2009,” Djunianto noted.
