An important pillar of the DiBiCoo project is building technical and project management skills of biogas technology importing countries (Argentina, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia & South Africa). These sessions were originally planned to be held through physical sessions and study tours. However, due to the pandemic, the project adapted to successfully deliver training in a mixed set up of physical and virtual sessions for Ethiopian stakeholders, from February 15-17, 2021.
The capacity building training session is prepared to cover very important and timely topics for Ethiopian Biogas market under the theme: Recent Advancements in Biogas Technology and Biogas Project Management.
Attendees complimented listening to biogas technology advancements across three different continents. Iceaddis also prepared a site visit of a Biogas plant in a town outside of Addis, Holeta. The visited biogas plant has a capacity of 80m3 digester and 27m3 of gas storage. Key topics included:
- Recent Technological advancements in biogas
- Biogas Upgrading and Bottling technologies
- Biogas Project Management – From idea to plant operation
- Practical experience of Ethiopia Biogas Project management and Biogas Project management lessons from South Africa.
- Solar Energy Assisted Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor for Tannery wastewater Treatment and Greenhouse Emission Mitigation
- Hydrogen sulphide removal technologies and Biomethane Production
Trainers were a mix of experts from Europe, Argentina, South Africa and local biogas experts; which made the sessions greatly interesting and provided attendees a global perspective on recent advancements. Experts from German Biogas association, GreenCape (South Africa), INTA (Argentina) and local experts from the public ministries and university researchers with practical experience.
Trainees came from key public institutions on biogas technology (e.g. Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy; Rural Electrification Directorate etc); private developers; development agencies working on biogas and researchers among others. Twenty participants attended the face to face session; while COVID19 regulations were observed.
Overall, the training was effective to engage major stakeholders in the Biogas sector in Ethiopia and discuss how DiBiCoo can support the country’s biogas industry. Future collaborations in line with DiBiCoo’s objectives and stakeholder engagement have been discussed in detail.
The capacity building session was an important platform to clearly communicate the DiBiCoo project and eager participants concluded the session with a decision to create a team of national experts among the participants to actively support the Biogas sector in Ethiopia.