From 1st to 11th of June, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík (Group leader of BRT) and Chama Theodore Ketuama (PhD candidate from BRT) visited Cameroon as part of Erasmus credit mobility program.
Welcome to our blog as we embark on an exciting journey from the Czech Republic to Cameroon, specifically to the University of Dschang. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hynek Roubík and Chama Theodore Ketuama, are thrilled to share their experiences and the objectives of the mobility focused on waste management and biogas technology. Together with local partners they aimed to enhance knowledge exchange, foster collaboration, and contribute to sustainable development in this vital field.
Join us as we explore the impact of biogas technology and efficient waste management practices in Cameroon.
Sharing Expertise and Best Practices
Our first objective is to share our extensive knowledge and experience in biogas technology and waste management with the faculty and students at the University of Dschang. We focused on the technologies, techniques, and approaches that can be used for waste management while promoting the use of biogas as a sustainable energy source. Through interactive sessions and engaging discussions, we hope to inspire and empower the next generation of environmental leaders. Together with our focal point at the University of Dschang – prof. Julius Tangka and his students we restored a previously non-functional biogas plant at the campus.
Study visit to the rural areas of the Western Region
Obtaining a lived experience on waste management and biogas technology in rural areas of the region was an important part of the visit. Travelling through the scenic grassfields, we observed organic waste management practices. We visited small-scale biogas plants, ranging from volumetric capacities of 4m3 to 25m3 in Dschang, Foumbot and Bandjoun. At every biogas plant, the owner gave us a guided tour. We were told how they manage their biogas plants and the problems they are facing with the technology. We offered immediate advice and pledged future technical support. All the biogas plants had the fixed-dome design and were constructed with masonry, resin-reinforced fibreglass and plastic materials. The main feedstock used in this region for biogas production was pig manure, as the region is famous for pig production. This region according to our local guide has a high number of crop and livestock farmers but very few of them have already adopted biogas technology. This represents high feedstock availability and untapped biogas potential. Also peculiar were the visits to vocational training centres offering courses in biogas technology. These centres were the Agribusiness Vocational Training Centre (or simply ABC Centre) in Dschang and the Royal Renewable Energy Cameroon Centre in Yaoundé. The ABC Centre is already training students on biogas technology, but the latter is currently hosting students on internship and intends in the future to launch trainings on biogas technology. According to the head of the centre, they are still in search of partners and funds to build the needed infrastructure. Both centres mainly blamed the low engagement in training activities to inadequate infrastructure.
Collaborative Research
Collaboration is key to driving meaningful change. During our mobility, we aimed to establish collaborative research activities between our institutions. By working hand in hand with faculty members and researchers at the University of Dschang especially prof. Julius Tangka and his team, we plan to identify research gaps, design comprehensive studies, collect data, and analyze findings related to biogas technology and waste management. We expect that the main research outputs will happen while the colleagues from University of Dschang will be hosted at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague – Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences – Biogas Research Team.
We are expecting this year academic staff to arrive as well as two students for 3 months period.
Sustainable Development and Knowledge Transfer
Our overall objective aligns with promoting sustainable development practices and facilitating knowledge transfer. By promoting the adoption of biogas technology and efficient waste management systems, we aim to reduce environmental impacts, enhance resource efficiency, and contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable society in Cameroon. We believe that our visit served as an initial small catalyst for change, inspiring individuals, communities, and organizations to embrace sustainable practices and strive for a cleaner, greener future.
Ending with high-note meeting
In the end, our visit was finalized with a high-note meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, where we were welcomed by Minister Gabriel Mbairobe in Yaoundé.
During this important meeting with the minister and his advisors, we discussed the potential future of biogas technology in Cameroon. We discussed where we see the biggest potential and where we see potential drawbacks. We also offered our cooperation in related disciplines in our expertise, and we are happy to say that we consider this an excellent end to our visit in Cameroon.
This important meeting was also a key step to our future collaboration in Cameroon. The meeting enabled us to tell the minister about the Erasmus+ mobility cooperation with the University of Dschang. We believe that cooperation needs to always go hand in hand across universities, ministries and all the key stakeholders.
To conclude, as we embark on this transformative journey, we invite you to join us in exploring the world of waste management and biogas technology via biogas.czu.cz.
Stay tuned for exciting updates, inspiring stories, and insightful discussions as we work towards a cleaner, more sustainable future in Cameroon and other countries.
Together, we can make a difference!
Three interesting facts about Cameroon, BGP or WM:
- Acute poor waste management is detrimental to the population and the environment in Cameroon.
- Less than one percent of the technical biogas potential has been exploited in Cameroon.
- Cameroon is currently building its renewable energy education, research and scholars’ capacity.
