Inspired by the rising cost of energy sources and a desire to save the environment, Atsikana Paulendo Secondary school has adopted biogas energy as an energy source, thanks to an innovation by a local energy company called Green Impact Technologies. Green Impact Technologies is a company that is based in area 47, sector 5 in Lilongwe and currently, boasts of successful biogas projects at Tsangano and Lizulu Markets, where bio fertilizer and biogas are being produced.

According to Founder and Director for Atsikana Paulendo, Memory Mdyetseni the school had its biogas plant installed in 2020 after they suffered from energy hiccups. “We migrated from fire wood to electric power heating for environment and hygiene reasons.

Firewood was dirty and contributing to environmental degradation. Unfortunately, electricity was not available 24/7 then gas became the obvious option as it could be bought and stored in advance.

” she said. According to the school, they resorted to using liquefied gas and was spending up to K1, 000, 000 per two weeks.

However, apart from the huge cost, there was the challenge of accessibility. “Unfortunately liquefied gas is expensive and at some point, it also started getting difficult to access due to forex issue (shortages) and that’s when the idea of biogas came in” she said.

According to Mdyetseni, since the installation of the biogas plant, the school has realized many benefits. “The benefits of using biogas are plenty: it is cheap from paying close to K1, 000,000 weekly, we now pay about K500, 000 every two weeks for standby gas.

“We have created jobs for biogas labour, we are recycling food left overs to make biogas and bio fertilizer, which we are using for growing crops. We are using the plants as practical lessons for the both students and community.

Mdyetseni said the initial cost for installing the gas was K12, 000,000 but weekly running cost is K250, 000. .

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