Maksum Nur Fauzan

Increasing fossil fuel consumption due to mankind’s increasing need is gradually depleting oil reserves. People have been spoilt by the excessive use of fossil fuels without considering the needs of future generations.

With that in mind, the villagers of Urut Sewu in Ampel district, Boyolali regency, Central Java, have begun to produce biogas from cow dung -- the area is known for its cattle farms.

The villagers had previously used kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for lighting and cooking, respectively. By the end of 2013, the village administration and farmers began to make use of cow dung to produce biogas, which reduces pollution.

Today, there are 54 digesters in the village that produce biogas. The village administration is targeting 100 digester wells to fulfill the needs of the whole village.   

Abundant cow dung in the village makes biogas production easier. Each digester well needs dung from five cows as it can accommodate between 10 to 25 cubic meters.

The villagers and the village administration have continued to produce biogas so that the village can have an independent power supply as well as reduce its dependency on fossil fuels. [yan]