[Stoves] Asian Development Bank boosts biomass in the Greater Mekong

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

From
http://agrocambodia.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/adb-helps-4-million-on-clean-en
ergy-for-greater-mekong-subregion/


 


ADB helps $4 million to boost biomass use in Greater Mekong Subregion


July 12, 2011 by Agrocambodia
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to help the Greater Mekong Subregion
(GMS) scale up the use of biomass waste in the agriculture sector to meet
its growing need for clean energy and food security for poor rural
households, the media release from ADB said on Monday.

The ADB Board of Directors has approved a regional technical assistance
project that will be funded by a $4 million grant from the Nordic
Development Fund along with counterpart financing of $600,000 from the
governments of Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam.

ADB will administer the grant and carry out the project in the three
countries. Biomass waste―such as rice husks and animal manure―is abundant in
GMS countries but is not efficiently used as a source of clean energy or as
fertilizer. At the same time, the growing practice of large-scale crop
production for biofuel poses a threat to food security by reducing food
production and forest land.

"Promoting more efficient use of biomass can simultaneously address the
goals of fighting climate change and improving the well-being of the rural
poor, which are often seen as competing priorities," said Sununtar
Setboonsarng, Principal Natural Resources and Agriculture Economist, in
ADB's Southeast Asia Department.

The project will fund pilot investment projects to scale up biomass
technologies such as household biogas systems, biochar kilns, and improved
cooking stoves. The project will also conduct studies, build human and
institutional capacity on biomass investment, and promote regional exchange
among the GMS countries.

"This project will also help strengthen regional cooperation as it will
harmonize bioenergy and biomass standards and regulations in the GMS to
bring them into line with global standards," said Ms. Setboonsarng.

The project is due to begin in July 2011 and will be completed by December
2014. The Nordic Development Fund is the joint multilateral development
institution of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, providing
grant finance for climate change interventions in developing countries. The
project is part of ADB's Energy for All Initiative, which increases access
to clean, modern energy for inclusive growth and sustainable human
development

 

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