Hawassa University Office of Vice president for research and technology transfer hosted Inception workshop on GPE, Domestic Biogas Project to improve rural livelihood in Ethiopia at Hawassa University College of Agriculture.

Dr. Eng. Fisha Getachew, Vice President for Academic Affairs HU, said that in developing countries people rely on traditional cook stoves and open fires to burn biomass or coal for heating and cooking. This practice causes harmful local air pollution and increases danger from fire hazards, serious local environmental damage including desertification which can be caused by excessive harvesting of wood and other combustible materials.

 Mrs. Hiwot Abayneh, Project Coordinator said that this project aims at improving the rural livelihood through construction of biogas plant in Damot Woyde and Duguna Fango districts of SNNPRS. The small scale domestic biogas plant will be used for light and cooking.

Moreover, the bi-product can be used as organic fertilizer and the benefits of the technology in general includes improving health, reducing workload for women and children, improving education, preventing deforestation, improving soil fertility, job creation for local community and promoting rural youth entrepreneurship.

The project will be implemented by Hawassa University in collaboration with Water, Mines and Energy Bureau at different levels in the Region and GIZ/EnDev.

On the Workshop representatives of partners; Mr. Tektel Matewos, Alternative Energy Development and Technology Transfer Director, Regional Water, Mine and Energy Bureau, Mr. Magnus Schmid, Program Director, Green Innovation Center (GIC, GiZ) and Mr. David Otieno, Program Director, Energizing Development (EnDev , GiZ) were present.