Assessment of the Cambodian National Biodigester Program

Abstract

The National Biodigester Program (NBP) was established in 2006 to build and maintain household biodigesters in Cambodia. In its first six years, the program installed almost 20,000 biodigesters and established an in-country network of local financiers, construction companies, skilled masons, bioslurry specialists and after-care technicians accessible to rural users in 14 of 24 Cambodian provinces. Since its initial success, the program’s adoption rates have stalled despite increasing government support and high rates of user satisfaction. Building on an initial evaluation of the NBP in 2013, this updated assessment identifies multiple changes in its second implementation phase that have undermined the initial momentum of the program. Abrupt interruptions in institutional support, deteriorating supply side services (access to construction agents, masons, repair services) and reduced access to credit for farmers have eroded the service network that the first implementation phase established. Structural changes in the rural economy may also contribute to declining demand. Government support to another biodigester program which offers a lower investment price, but does not provide after-sales services has also undercut the long-term implementation strategy of the NBP. The paper finds that despite these programmatic changes, the installed biodigesters continue to perform according to expectation and to be maintained and valued by their users, but the future viability of the program remains uncertain.

Supply Considerations for Scaling Up Clean Cooking Fuels for Household Energy in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries

“…Evaluations of household biodigester programs show high levels of client satisfaction and functionality in several countries (Bajgain et al, 2005;Bedi et al, 2015;Bedi et al, 2017). In Cambodia, a survey of 165 biodigester users, 96% were satisfied with their biodigester and 100% use the biogas for cooking (Hyman & Bailis, 2018), similar to other biogas surveys. In East Africa household level biodigester usage rates range from 67% to 77% of those installed (Clemens et al, 2018).…”

“…Users report a variety of reasons for nonfunctioning of biodigesters, including improper provision of feedstock (perhaps related to a lack of training). Rural modernization is affecting smallholder livestock ownership in countries with draft animals, and this may eventually undermine demand for biodigesters in some settings (Hyman & Bailis, 2018). Rural modernization is affecting smallholder livestock ownership in countries with draft animals, and this may eventually undermine demand for biodigesters in some settings (Hyman & Bailis, 2018).…”

“…The PAHAL program alone has saved the Indian government over $8 billion up to March 2019 according to the government's figures (Press Information Bureau, 2019). Full cost subsidies, on the contrary, may affect competitive market development (Hyman & Bailis, 2018;Zuzhang, 2013). Households are also able to use a loan to pay for the up-front cost not covered by PMUY, but it is paid back by witholding the subsidy for refill cylinders until the capital is recovered.…”

“…This has led to fuel stacking with traditional solid fuels (Clemens et al, 2018). Rural modernization is affecting smallholder livestock ownership in countries with draft animals, and this may eventually undermine demand for biodigesters in some settings (Hyman & Bailis, 2018).…”

“…Incentives of 25% of construction or installation cost have proven to be effective. Full cost subsidies, on the contrary, may affect competitive market development (Hyman & Bailis, 2018;Zuzhang, 2013). In Indonesia, the CSR program of Nestle has provided zero-interest loans for biogas systems (Bedi et al, 2017) to incentivize biogas use.…”