Improved cookstove and biogas programmes in Bangladesh

1. The energy scene in Bangladesh Bangladesh, with a total surface area of about 147,570 km 2 , is inhabited by about 140 million people, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The total annual per capita energy consumption of the country in 1995 was estimated at 8.467 GJ. The shares of commercial energy (coal, oil, gas and hydropower) and biomass fuels were estimated at 3.203 and 5.264 GJ re spectively [Islam, 2001]. This is among the lowest per capita energy consumption rates in the world. Commercial energy comprising oil, natural gas, coal and hydroelectricity accounts for about one-third of the total energy consumption. The remaining two-thirds is attributed to non-commercial renewable sources. Out of the different renewable sources, biomass, peat, solar radiation, wind and hydropower can be effectively used in Bangladesh. Biomass comprises material of tree origin, such as fu elwood, charcoal, twigs and leaves; agricultural residues (mainly from rice and wheat plants), paddy husk and bran, bagasse, jute sticks; and animal (cattle) dung. The total amount of biomass fuel consumed in the country in the year 2000 was approximately 45 million tonnes (Mt). The country has sizable deposits of natural gas. According to Petrobangla (the state-owned petroleum company), the total recoverable reserves of natural gas in 22 known gas fields are 439 billion m 3 (Gm 3 ) of which 110 Gm 3 was produced up to June 2000. Net recoverable reserves in July 2000 were 329 Gm 3 [Islam, 2001]. Although the gas being used has an impact on the national economy through fertilizer manufacture, electricity generation and direct energy use in some industries, it will not be eco nomically feasible to supply the gas to the rural areas through pipelines in riverine Bangladesh [Khan, 2002]. The country uses petroleum products predominantly for transport and rural lighting. The total consumption of petroleum in 2000 was 3.23 Mt, all of which was imported. In Bangladesh the total coal deposits are 1.75 Gt (bil lion tonnes), broken down as follows: at Jamalgonj 1 Gt, at Barapukuria 300 Mt and at Khalispir 450 Mt [Islam, 2001]. Mining of the coal deposits has started on a small scale and commercial production is expected to start next year. The coal being situated at a depth of over 900 m, its mining cost is high. Therefore, a sizable quantity of Jamalgonj coal may not be available in the near future for widespread use. The average yearly consumption of coal in the country is over 1 Mt, which is met by imports and is almost exclusively used for brick-burning. The total