The central province of Thua Thien–Hue has successfully applied
the model of using livestock biogas to light public spaces. It not only
helps save energy and State capital but also reduces environmental
pollution.

Nguyen Dinh Phu from Thuy Xuan ward,
Hue City raises around 30 pigs. Their stench and waste pollute the
environment. With assistance from local authorities, Phu built a biogas
digester in order to reduce pollution and create another source of
fuel. However, his family could not consume all the biogas. The gas not
used continued to pollute the environment. After a meeting with local
authorities, Phu decided to work with them to use some of the gas to
light the roads in his residential area.

“We do
not have money to illuminate the roads, but with leftover biogas we can
do it now. Security is ensured, the risk of accidents reduced, and
locals can go about in the evening,” Phu said.

According to the Thuy Xuan ward, the cost of installing a lamp-post,
biogas pipeline and a bulb is around 500,000 VND (or 25 USD). The
expense will be covered by local authorities.

In
fact, a bulb using biogas generates the same amount of light as bulbs
using electricity. By exploiting biogas local people save money that
they had to spend on public lighting before.

Dong Si
Toan, Chairman of the Thuy Xuan ward People’s Committee, said: “Without
light, it is dangerous for locals to travel after dark as there are
many bumps in the road. The biogas project has changed this. The cost is
little while the environment and security are ensured. Besides,
relations among local people are strengthened.”

In
rural areas and on the outskirts of Thua Thien– Hue, and across the
whole country in general, there are many households engaging in
large-scale breeding as well as trading villages. Many households
built biogas digesters to serve their daily demand for energy and
reduce environmental pollution.

Experts say local
authorities play an important role in the use of the resource for public
lighting. Besides raising awareness, they should give people financial
and technical assistance.

The State and local
authorities still do not have enough money to light all public places,
so the model that Thuy Xuan ward in Hue City is applying seems like a
good idea, they say.-VNA