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Socio-economic Aspects of Densified Biomass Fuel Use in Bangladesh: a Case Study in Mymensingh Town

M. Ahiduzzaman
Senior Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701.

Uwe Rehling
Department of Farm Machinery, University of Flensburg, Germany.

Wulf Boie
Department of Farm Machinery, University of Flensburg, Germany.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to evaluate the socioeconomic aspects of densified biomass fuel use in Bangladesh. The data were collected through structured questionnaire survey, focus group discussion and interviews. The data were critically analyzed focused on the ease of fuel collection, employment generation, income generation activities, social acceptance of this fuel and economic analysis of this fuel use. The densified biomass fuel is available as ready to use in market. The users do not need to spent time as much as needed for wood fuel collection. Direct employment generated was calculated as 3.73 man-day/ton due to production, trading and using of densified biomass fuel. Some young unemployed educated person has come forward to establish self employment activities with densified biomass fuel production and trading. Consumers reported a number of advantages of densified biomass fuel compared to wood fuel such as less or no smoke; more reliable, uniform quality and steady fire during cooking; easy fire management; after all the densified biomass fuel was available in the market. However, the densified biomass fuel could not be accepted by small industries such as bakery because the present system was not suitable for firing this fuel. The economic analysis showed that the replacement of wood with densified biomass fuel is viable. The sensitivity analysis expressed that the economic viability affected by the performance of densified biomass fuel over wood fuel and of course price variation. The densified biomass fuel option is viable up to 20% price increase and if 1kg densified biomass fuel could give same service of 1.36 kg of wood fuel. The densified biomass fuel is well adapted in the study area with satisfactory performances.

Keywords: Socio-economy, Biomass fuel, Bangladesh

Location: Mymensingh district

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Bio fertilizer

Objectives:

To address the impact of biomass densification technology on socio-economy in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

This research was carried out as a case study in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Greater Mymensingh region produces highest amount of rice compared to other regions of the country. A huge amount of rice husk is produced as by product from rice milling industries in the region. Surplus rice husk is used for making densified briquette for using as fuel in the region. All the big shops/wholesalers in the town who collected the fuel directly from factory/producer were investigated to get the total magnitude of the densified biomass fuel entered the market in the town. When one trader was investigated then he also was asked to locate other traders in the town. All the traders were asked to locate the producer/factory from where they collected the fuel. The key persons who are aware about the densification technology also were asked to locate the machine/factory. Out of all these machines, some were selected and studied in details to assess the performances and financial viability of the technology. During the investigation all the traders and producers were asked to identify the user group of the densified biomass fuel. The users in the town were investigated to study the consumption pattern and acceptability of the densified biomass fuel as an alternative of wood fuel. The primary data were collected through questionnaire survey, interview, focus group discussions and field observation. Finally performances of densified biomass fuel were critically analyzed focusing on the ease of fuel collection, employment generation, income generation activities, social acceptance of this fuel and economic analysis of this fuel use. To estimate the cost of CO₂ reduction due to use of densified biomass fuel, a scenario was made with GEMIS (Global Emission Model for Integrated Systems) software.

Source of Information: JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, Vol-36/AE, pp. 45-51, JUNE 2009, ISSN:0379-4318.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The densified biomass fuel is well adopted in the study area with satisfactory performances. A market channel is established there and the consumers have accepted the densified biomass fuel instead of wood fuel. Finally, due to the intervention of the densified biomass fuel people are getting advantages from time saving for fuel collection, better service from the fuel, employment generation, income generation. People have knowledge of how to produce a cleaner and reliable energy from the available loose biomass material, and consumers have access to this fuel as well as they can afford this fuel (by both the commercial and household sector). Here it is mentioned that the people accepted the densified biomass fuel over non-sustainable wood fuel and they spend a share of money to buy the densified biomass fuel from their daily income.

Knowledge Management: Journal