Economic Assessment of Sanitation Interventions in Vietnam - WSP

Economic Assessment of Sanitation Interventions in Vietnam | Annex Tables3. PROGRAM APPROACH ANALYSIS FOR BIOGAS DIGESTER PROMOTION PROJECTS IN RURALAREASProjectThe Vietnam Biogas ProgrammeRational Promotion of biogas digesters for households across rural and peri-urban areas in Vietnam. Phase 1:2003 – 2006; phase 2: 2007 – 2011.124ImplementerProgram approach andactivitiesImpactsLessonsLivestock Development Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD),through its Biogas Project Division (BPD), with technical assistance from SNV (Netherlands).Set up a decentralized program management structure that is able to facilitate the construction andquality control of biogas plants in Vietnam; mobilize and professionalize different actors in the biogassector, including construction companies, provincial technicians, research institutes, schools andtrainers, banks and companies, who together are able to guarantee the quality and sustainability ofbiogas plants constructed under the program; and maintain the pro-poor dimension of the biogasprogram.Some 27,000 biogas plants have been constructed over phase 1 (only 10,000 were planned), and140,000 more biogas plants are planned in phase 2. A flat-rate subsidy of VND1 million to householdsthat have a biogas plant constructed was provided from the program, covering 25% to 30% ofthe investment (6 m3 to 8 m3 digester volume). About 60% of the farmers took the opportunity tomodernize or improve their stables, kitchen and latrine at the same time, increasing total investmentcosts to VND6 to 10 million.Economic and environmental sanitation benefits have been confirmed by the users and localresidents. Biogas is treated with gas filtration (using an adsorption column) to eliminate hydrogensulfide gas, and is collected for water heating and cooking. Some 40% of the plants have a toiletattached. About 55% of the farmers use bio-slurry for agriculture. On average, 1 to 1.5 hours of workload per household per day are saved, and about 1,190 kg of firewood, 172 kg of agricultural wasteand 34 kg of charcoal, 47 kg of coal, 6.3 kg of LPG and 30 kWh electricity are saved per householdper year. In addition, between 81,000 and 135,000 tones of greenhouse gas CO2 equivalent havebeen reduced per year. The program has created job opportunities in rural areas, with at least 270,000man days of input. Trained biogas masons can develop their own businesses (adapted from programreports).In addition, partly thanks to biogas activity, the number of flies has decreased, leading to a decreasein diarrhea. The number of unhygienic latrines and the practice of open defecation have decreasedsignificantly.Key points for achieving success were:Clear orientation, guidance and budget provided in organizing local promotion activities; clear visionand support of provincial and district authorities; appropriate selection of biogas technology to beintroduced; adequate technical training to be provided to set up a team of qualified and enthusiasticlocal technicians; quality control system should be established that helps livestock community toplace/regain its trust in the sanitation option.In relation to monitoring and evaluation activity: clear indicators for monitoring and evaluation and amechanism to monitor the activities of district technicians should be developed.Limitations to be overcome:Previous defective biogas technologies hindering marketing efforts at the start of the program; notincluding local authorities and civil societies, from which resources and opportunities for biogaspromotion could be mobilized; insufficient budget allocated to activities, especially media programs;more investment needed on demonstration models; more attention should be given to monitoring theuse of biogas plants.The project should try to increase bottom-up planning, simplify the administrative system and link withother biogas-related projects and programs.In addition to the common practice of slurry utilization, adequate post-treatment of biogas products(liquid and solid phase) should be considered. High concentrations of nitrogen ammonia, remainingorganic matter and pathogens often create water pollution, unsafe cropping, eutrophication andoxygen depletion, which reduces fish productivity.Lessons from previous small biogas projects could be also useful. For example, many householdswith biogas models have not used them for energy purposes, because: electricity has recently cometo the area, which is reasonably priced and does not smell bad; animal husbandry has become lesspopular in the commune; many biogas constructions are unusable due to technical issues; and somehouseholds rebuild their houses and biogas constructions are destroyed.Economic Assessment of Sanitation Interventions