Church promotes Biogas for self sufficiency in Samoa

The Methodist Church of Samoa has launched a biogas project at Faleula as it moves to shift its congregation towards sustainable energy sources.

The official launching on Monday was attended by the Methodist Church President and Faletua Reverend Faulalo Leti, high chiefs and church ministers with their representatives [usufono], who also gathered at Faleula for the Methodist Church’s 2021 annual conference [koneferenisi aoao].

In an interview with the Project Manager Reverend Usufono Fepulea'i, he said the purpose of the opening on Monday is for the whole church to understand the benefits of the biogas system. 

“The purpose of today is to introduce to the church the benefit and to understand the functions of the biogas system,” he said.

According to Fepulea'i, there is a push amongst church leaders to become self-sufficient and technology is making this possible.

“I think the leaders of the Methodist Church – they want the Methodist community to be self-sufficient and be blessed with this kind of technology – because of the many changes and the COVID-19 restriction as well as the government’s situation.

“It's taken a while for the project to open and complete.”

The benefits of using biogas are numerous, added Fepuleai, who also talked about its benefits.

“The benefits are not only the gas used for the oven, lights, generators. But it also creates very good organic fertilizers for gardening. 

“It also reduces the bad smell from the pig poultry which is unhealthy for the church as well as the public.”

Fepuleai said the biogas system includes a 10 cubic-meter tank that is buried for public safety while also ensuring that the weather didn’t affect its use.

“The water and the solid waste from the biogas system is the best fertilizer for gardening,” he said.

“The fertilizer from the biogas system contains vitamin, protein, potassium and phosphorus and it grows the plant very quickly.”

Another church official, Reverend Taina Taina (Pule ole Atinae) also praised the new energy system, saying its technology continues to evolve rapidly in Samoa. 

“The project starts from March this year and it is a very good system to use not only its cheaper but also the experience and the technology to create something out of animal manure and municipal waste, green waste and food waste is amazing,” he said.

The biogas project is run in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment as well as the United Nations Development Programme.

“I am very grateful for this development that brings a lot of benefits for the church and its members as we are in this very difficult time of our lives,” added Rev. Taina. 

Biogas is the mixture of gases produced by organic matter in the absence of oxygen (anaerobically), primarily consisting of methane and carbon dioxide. It can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage and green or food waste.

Source: Samoa Observer

Original Link: https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/87181