Biogas from agro residues: Decentralised energy production serving rural communities in Mali

The project combines rural energy supply, based on biogas, with rural business development. A pilot project in 5 villages, in cooperation with ANADEB (Agence Nationale du Développement des Biocarburants), was completed in 2014. This pilot demonstrated that diesel for the motor of Multi Functional Platforms could largely be replaced by biogas from agricultural residues and manure.

At the production site of Mali Biocarburant SA in Koulikoro, oil is extracted from Jatropha and other oil seeds for further use in the soap and cosmetic industry. The extraction residues will be used for biogas production in big bags of large capacity, allowing to produce electricity for both the oil extraction facility and the local grid. Electricity production was not yet operational at project closure.