While more and more people switch to using biogas as an energy source in Punakha, there are equally those who feel it is not as reliable as LPG and electricity.
So far, people from Barp and Toewang Gewog are switching towards biogas. Sixty two-year-old Sonam who first built a bio gas plant in Barp said it was worth an effort since his family need no longer worry about sourcing gas cylinders and refilling them. “It is not only cheaper, but also very convenient,” he said.
Initially, he said he was worried, it may not work properly, but it turned out to be very convenient and beneficial. He has also managed to convince a few of his neighbours to switch to biogas.
Kinley, another biogas user said, LPG has become expensive and it was difficult to get the cylinders refilled by going all the way to town.
However, other gewogs in Punakha are not that keen to switch to biogas production. Officials from Dzongkhag Livestock Sector said they have been going around creating awareness on biogas.
Dzongkhag livestock officer, Gyem Tshering said many people are not interested to try biogas production since there was an associated problem of collecting cow dung as many farmers send their cattle out in the open for grazing.
Passang Dorji from Guma gewog did not like the idea of switching to biogas, as collecting cow dung was difficult.
“I just have two cows and the biogas plant require at least 15 kilogram of cow dung, daily.”
Today, there are plans to construct over 300 biogas plant in Punakha Dzongkhag by the end of this year.
So far about 62 biogas plant have been constructed in the Dzongkhag. All biogas plant was constructed by the livestock sector in Punakha with support From Bhutan Biogas project.
