A biogas plant is a construction attached to a house. Fed with dung and water, it produces:

• energy (in the form of an inflammable gas),
• natural fertilizer.

A plant such as those built Lokhim's villagers produces energy that a family uses to cook and light a room in their house. Since the villagers are farmers, they also use the fertilizer produced to fertilize soils and improve their crops. These 3 innovations (light, new energy source for cooking and fertilizer) are tremendous improvements of their lifestyle respectful of their traditions and culture. Actually, the original idea of this project comes from Hupendra Rai who was born in Lokhim.

Biogas is simple to build, operate and maintain with a basic training [R0]. Its construction is very cheap compared to the advantages it brings. It produces gas from the first day and as long as it is fed with a sufficient amount of dung and water.

Biogas is technically proven, safe, and culturally well-accepted in Nepal. The Nepalese government has registered the construction of more than 150 000 units during the last 15 years. 97% of those plants are still operating [R1].

However, to this date, biogas units are only found in accessible areas along the country's main roads. Due to the difficulty to access it, only 10 units have been built in Solukhumbu, Lokhim's district [R2].

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