Abstract

The use of biogas in Eswatini is encouraged by favorable climate and availability of organic waste, with opportunity for renewable energy generation on site with associated health and environmental benefits.  This study provides a review of the development of biogas installations with the objective of identifying the relevant factors that determine the success of biogas schemes. The study is based on local experience through a survey of about twenty biogas pilot installations in Eswatni.  Data were collected using desk studies, field observations, interviews and focus group discussions. The study revealed that despite the existence of good potential, most of the biogas projects in the past experienced poor performance and were abandoned due to a multitude of factors related to policy, technical, institutional, socio-cultural, climatic and economic factors. Future implementation of biogas projects need to carefully address these relevant factors at both the planning and implementation stages and shall be accompanied by proper feasibility studies with program and project support in order to realize the full benefit and reduce failure rates.