Community Biogas System from Swine Farming Project
PTT Public Company Limited
INTRODUCTION
As an energy company, PTT social investment programs are emphasised by leveraging its own experience and expertise in energy business. Moreover, the Company has implemented participatory development that benefits communities and society. Therefore, PTT has initiated project aiming to promote up-country energy sustainability with local renewable energy source.The Community Biogas System from Swine Farming Project has been continuously developed for over 8 years. This project aims to help reduce fuel expenses and unpleasant odour caused by swine farm wastewater and settle disputes between swine farmers and the nearby communities by turning swine farm waste into biogas for community uses, replacing charcoal and cooking gas (or LPG).
FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY
To run the project, PTT took a participatory approach as follows:L-Learning – Providing learning opportunities In collaboration with its networking partners, the Company has provided on-the-job training on biogas system maintenance for their communities. The locals have developed skills and gained first-hand experience to operate, manage, maintain, service and repair the biogas system safely.
S-Sharing – Promoting community participation and showcasing PTT has encouraged their communities by supporting them to form a local committee to operate the projects in the long run, setting up community biogas funds, seek supports from other government agencies and educational institutes.
O-to be Owner – Building a sense of belonging A sense of belonging was implanted in the community to lead to continuous improvement and shared investment to expand the project areas. With collaboration with local experts and leaders, PTT has leveraged local knowhow into innovations, such as local-made cooking stoves, biogas pipeline construction technique.
ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPACT
This project was able to deal with the social issue concerning wastewater discharge as well as community conflicts associated with pollution from swine farming. 794 households in participating communities are able to manage their own biogas production and transmission system and become energy self-reliance community with access to renewable energy at a reasonable price. Approximately, 131,791 cubic meters of wastewater from 18 participating swine farm is treated per year. The project reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission, by 10,518 tons of CO2 equivalent per year. This project has provided an economic value of 7.17 million baht per year. People in the community can derive an income from selling sediment of the biogas system as fertilizer. Moreover, the operation and maintenance of the biogas system can lead to an increase in job employment.FUTURE DIRECTION
The Community Biogas System from Swine Farming Project represents a successful sustainable development framework regarding the economic, environment, and social value that could be useful for the public. Recently the location site has expanded to another area at Chainat province. With opened collaboration, PTT has encouraged the communities to seek supports from other government agencies and educational institutes by providing information and knowledge as a mentor.The initiative and innovation LSO framework allows PTT networks to create a community share value that leads participants to corporate responsibility and becoming a partner for sustainable growth.
This development model could be expanded not only in Thailand, but also to neighbouring countries. The Company believes that self-reliance is the heart of robust development and aims to bolster communities, making them self-reliant with sustainability on the sufficiency path.
PTT Public Company Limited or PTT is a national energy company
of Thailand, which has been on the list of the Stock Exchange of
Thailand since 2001. With over 34,000 employees for PTT Group, the
company has operations in 26 countries globally through integrated
energy and petrochemical business from upstream to downstream.
