Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, Birame Souleye Diop, has called for increased funding to accelerate clean cooking initiatives across the country. As Senegal prepares to produce its first gas from bp and Kosmos Energy’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project by late 2024, the country is well-positioned to promote alternative fuels such as biogas, particularly to advance agricultural development.
Sustainable Energy for Local Communities
Senegal is advancing a diversified energy strategy that prioritizes the co-development of natural gas and renewable resources. As part of its goal to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix to 30% by 2025, biogas is emerging as a viable alternative. Produced through the breakdown of organic materials such as food scraps and animal waste, biogas can replace natural gas. In Senegal, several initiatives have already been launched, such as the National Biogas Program, which has led to the installation of over 2,300 biogas systems across the country, and a Swiss government project aimed at developing 60,000 biodigesters in Senegal. However, a project-based approach carries risks, as experience from other African nations highlights the urgent need for regulatory frameworks that encourage users to invest in biogas and enable companies to scale the technology. In Senegal, the biogas potential from waste produced by existing dairy cows alone is estimated at 50,000 m³ per hour, equivalent to 2.66 TWh annually.
Speaking to Energy Capital & Power (ECP), Katrin Pütz, CEO of B(Energy), a company manufacturing biogas systems active in Senegal, highlighted the unique potential of biogas within the energy sector.
“Biogas can be produced anywhere where organic waste and the right temperatures exist, and Africa benefits from both. If you have access to water or wastewater, a biogas system can run. This is something that can be done by individuals at home,” she said.
Pütz’s insights highlight the broad benefits of biogas, particularly its capacity to reduce dependency on fossil and traditional fuels and promote energy independence and climate protection. She noted that, “Biogas is not just about energy production; it’s about creating a circular economy that directly benefits local communities and generates money.”
Also speaking to ECP, Papa Assane Ndao, CEO of Methanizer, the local distributor of (B)energy biogas systems in Senegal, emphasized the local implications of biogas adoption: “In Senegal, we are not just talking about energy. We are talking about empowering communities and providing them with sustainable solutions.” https://methanizer.org/a-propos/
Strengthening Agriculture Through Biogas
As the region advances in its energy transition, biogas systems present a scalable solution that complements existing agricultural practices, including large-scale agrofood complexes like the Agropolis. Agriculture is a key priority for Senegal’s government, which aims to achieve food self-sufficiency by 2029. While there are ongoing projects to produce fertilizers locally, integrating biogas systems can further boost agricultural productivity. These systems provide farmers with organic fertilizers from digestate, a byproduct of biogas production. https://africa24tv.com/senegal-52-milliards-fcfa-pour-accelerer-la-souverainete-alimentaire#:~:text=Le%20gouvernement%20s%C3%A9n%C3%A9galais%20bien%20conscient,sur%20la%20p%C3%A9riode%202024%2D2029.
“The agricultural sector in Senegal can greatly benefit from biogas technology. It not only provides energy but also enriches the soil, leading to better crop yields,” Ndao said.
Meanwhile, Pütz added that by utilizing agricultural waste for biogas production, farmers can turn a liability into an asset. “The biogas system includes a business model that allows customers to become entrepreneurs by selling excess biogas using a biogas backpack, enabling them to earn money from both gas and fertilizer sales, while allowing households to access biogas who do not have their own biogas system” she explained.
Moreover, the dual benefit of energy production and soil enhancement not only supports Senegal’s agricultural ambitions but also advances the country’s broader industrialization goals. Methanizer is collaborating with the government’s Agricultural Domain Program (PRODAC), which aims to establish community agricultural areas (DAC) ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 hectares. “We worked with PRODAC on a study to install an industrial biodigester in the southern zone, where there was no electricity. The DAC was producing a lot of waste, so the idea was to convert it into electricity and fertilizer. The study showed that the area could become self-sufficient in electricity using agricultural and livestock waste, with surplus power even supplying nearby villages,” said Ndao.
Biogas development in Senegal offers significant opportunities for job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic diversification.
Investments in the energy sector are at the core of the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2024 conference and exhibition, taking place in Dakar from December 3-4. Pütz will be a speaker at the event, where she will elaborate further on biogas as a business opportunity in the region. She is also the one who introduces this technology in Germany and Europe, where the awareness of climate change motivates people to switch.
Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and stay at the forefront of the MSGBC region’s oil, gas and power sector. Visit www.msgbcoilgasandpower.com to secure your participation at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2024 conference. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
