News from Indonesia–A “Cigar” Turns Waste into Energy

A giant balloon planted in the earth, or a blue cigar.  Both can be used to describe the 90 x 45 x 40 meter septic tank in Bumiaji Kampung, a district in Indonesia’s Central Lamsung province.  Seen from a distance, the giant septic tank installation made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), resembles a giant balloon that has been planted in the earth.  The installation is called a Covered In-Ground Anaerobic Reactor (CIGAR) or biogas plant, and is owned by PT Santori.  Filled with cow dung, a processing machine, and filter pool, the CIGAR represents Indonesia’s leap into organic waste processing.  Indonesia, an archipelago of islands, is home to many cow farms, and cities like Jakarta have higher than average carbon dioxide emissions.

“This cigar forms part of our commitment to help governments reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  With this cigar, we are helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide within a period of 10 years,” said the president director of PT Santori, Samuel Wibisono.

The cigar stands in a complex of feedlots fattening 22,000 heads of cattle from Australia. The cow dung processed inside the cigar reduces the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment.  Two hundred tons of carbon dioxide is the equivalent of carbon emissions released by 35,000 cars.  What’s better, the dung produces an average of 900 tons of methane gas every year.  That methane is then converted to produce renewable energy equal to one megawatt.

Using cow dung to create a renewable energy resource is not a new practice. Many dairy farmers in Indonesia currently process cow dung to produce energy used for everyday purposes (see picture).

“But so far we are the only ones who have developed a processing plant on a large scale that can use dung from 22,000 heads of cattle.”

When the cigar was inaugurated early last December, the chief of the National Council on Climate Change (DNPI), Rachmat Witoelar, praised the efforts being made to reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is a great example highlighting our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The operation of the cigar plant to process cow manure into biogas shows that we are very serious in Indonesia about reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Indonesia hopes that developed countries, including multinational corporations, can assist with the funds needed to help install similar energy generators,” Witoelar added.