Development of a Biogas Plant for the Kumasi Abattoir

Abstract

Biogas Technology in Ghana is relatively underdeveloped and has been limited to donor-funded projects in communal areas and health institutions. In most cases the projects have been abandoned for lack of sustained funding, poor maintenance and management. Where there is any technical utilization of the technology, these have been limited to the production of Biogas for heating water and for cooking purposes with little or poor maintenance of the equipment used.. A survey carried out by the authors indicated that in almost all cases there is an under-utilisation of the gas produced. The Ministry of Energy, whilst recognising the growing importance of renewable energy in meeting the policy objectives of securing future energy for strategic applications in addition to minimising the environmental impacts of energy supply, particularly in a country that has no known appreciable reserves of oil, it has not come out with a clear policy statement for the research, development and promotion of biogas technology. The present study focuses on the development of biogas technology for industrial application in the Kumasi Abattoir, through the use of the animal waste produced for the production of Biogas, namely for heat and electricity generation with the resultant effect of creating an economically viable and thereby sustained venture for the private sector.