FARM PRODUCES ENERGY WITH PIG MANURE
Amilcar Ninar - Santo Domingo. Within the country is already working, since three months ago, the first environment-friendly pig farm, where the manure produced by its animals, in adition to its sewage, is used to generate all the energy needed by the plant.
Through a 2000 cubic meters pit, in which the manure mixed with water is poured, a gas that is 65% natural is produced, which is then used to fuel the electric generator and the farm's kitchen.
Biogenetik CEO, Carlos Porrello, stated that the biodigester installed in this farm, which had an initial investment of nearly RD$ two millions, is 50 centimeters below soil level and has five meters of water depth.
He stated that after the system commissioning, this plant has seen RD$90,000 monthly savings, which was the amount that was spent buying fuel for the energy supply of the whole farm, therefore he considers that in 22 months the investment would be returned.
"If one sees this project from an electricity standpoint, it pays off, if you see it as an environmental solution, it pays off, and if you see it as a costs saving factor, you can get that too”, as it was expressed by Sanut enterprise's CEO, who was in charge of this biodigester installation.
He stated that Biogenetik is a farm that has 1000 pigs and there are others in the country that have up to 20000 pigs livestock, which indicates that Dominican Republic has the capacity and many sources of energy production.
The pit has a holding capacity for 1400 cubic meters of biogas but, with the manure of a thousand pigs population, is producing 180 cubic meters of fuel, quantity that can provide 21 kilowatts per day.
"We only use 15 kilowatts per day", he said.
Lajara said that this isn't the first biodigester that is built in the country, but rather is the first one created with a different concept and technology. Lajara explained that any farm, no matter the size, even poultry farms, may install one of this systems and produce its own energy, either for costs saving or comercial purposes.
"We, at the farm, have already what we wanted, which is 100% savings in fuel costs. And our plan for next year is to migrate our vehicles to this system too.
Meanwhile, Lajara explained that with this project a message is carried to every livestock producer that electric energy can be produced with the waste of their farms.
"Here we have farms with the capacity to produce over 200 kilowatts and evidently those are high added value and quick return projects" he stated.
The businessman pointed that when a farm decides to install a biodegester to produce biogas, it saves 100% fuel costs and works in harmony with the environment.
He said that with 20000 pigs, there can be savings up to 2 million RD$ per month.
UNCONTROLLED IMPORTS
Poultry Offal - Pig Producer and member of the Dominican Farms Association [Adogranjas - Asociación Dominicana de Granjas Porcinas], Pedro José, claimed that the sausages being produced in the country are made with imported poultry offal.
He expresed that this situation, besides being illegal according with the descriptions stated by the Quality Systems and Norms General Directorate, has caused bankruptcy in more than 50% of local pig producers.
However, he highlighted that he is not against imports, because they are allowed through the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (DRCafta), but the arrival to the country of quantities that surpass the allowed limit of poultry offal imports.
Poultry offal is a product made with the remaining bones of the flesh.
Original Source: http://www.listindiario.com/economia-y-negocios/2011/12/15/214832/Una-granja-genera-energia-con-el-estiercol-de-los-cerdos
