SimGas revolutionize cooking in Tanzania

When Mama Leokadia Milanzi of Kisarawe in Coast region decided that it was time to switch cooking from charcoal and firewood to SimGas, she was not realizing how wise her decision was. But now she and her family are enjoying the benefits of efficient cooking with biogas.

"I used to spend TZS 105,000 (approx. US$80) monthly on charcoal" she says. " Now that cost is greatly reduced with the use of GesiShamba, a bioreactor that uses cow dung to produce clean, cheap and reliable cooking gas. I cook faster with biogas with no worries, no tears and no sweat".

Mama Leokadia Milanzi smilling at her GesiShamba digester in Kisarawe

The other benefit that Mrs Milanzi enjoys is easiness to use that "even my husband can use it when I'm not at home" she explains.

SimGas Tanzania offers a range of biogas digesters and appliances suitable for different situations and requirements, from households to small enterprises and institutions like schools. There are two different systems that convert organic waste into biogas; Kitchen waste systems (GesiSafi) that digest kitchen waste and food leftovers. They are suitable for households and small enterprises.

A range of GESISAFI systems

 Farm waste systems (GesiShamba) are designed for livestock farmers like cattle holders. They are modular and expandable and are fed with manure, kitchen waste and agricultural waste. 

GesiShamba system

All give the advantages of saving up to 80% of cooking expenses, faster and easier cooking, improving household especially kitchen cleanliness and tidiness, protects families from indoor air pollution, helps manage household waste as instead of throwing waste; one can use it to produce energy, biogas-slurry that comes out of biogas systems is rich in nutrients and can be applied directly to plants and vegetables to help them grow; Biogas-slurry replaces chemical fertilizers, saves money and is better for the environment, the use of biogas contributes to environmental conservation as a family that uses biogas reduces their firewood or charcoal by more than 60%.

Considering the fact that more than 90% of all Tanzanians depend highly on inefficient and hazardous cooking from firewood and charcoal, alternative-efficient cooking applications are highly required to contribute to the reduction of deforestation in Tanzania

Deforestation rates in Tanzania are quite high; between 1990 and 2005 an estimated 412,000 ha per annum were cleared, equivalent to about 1.1% of the total forest area. Reliance on wood fuel and charcoal for energy supply have been identified as a key driver behind national rates of deforestation and degradation and it presents a real challenge, as almost all domestic (rural and urban) energy consumption are derived from these sources.

SimGas provides an ideal contribution and solution to fight deforestation.

For more information please visit www.simgas.com.

Photos and story courtesy of SimGas Tanzania