SimGas mass-produced rural biogas systems Note: The project has not been fully implemented, because the product is not successful.The applicant, Sumaria Industries Ltd., local partner SimGas Tanzania Ltd and third partner SimGas B.V. aim to set up a joint venture for the production of mass-producible biogas systems for livestock owners in Tanzania. SimGas B.V. has developed a system based on the same operating principle as the currently available brick and concrete constructions: it converts manure and other biodegradable waste into biogas for cooking and organic fertiliser. Because the SimGas system is made from injection moulded plastic parts, it is significantly cheaper, robust and reliable, easy to transport, install, maintain and operate and suitable as collateral for micro-finance. This way biogas becomes accessible to a much larger target group. It reduces energy expenses, increases productivity, creates less indoor air pollution and it helps to reduce deforestation and carbon emissions.The first series of SimGas systems are being produced in Portugal, to be able to make final modifications to the moulds. This is a temporary solution since it is expensive and inefficient. In Tanzania, no injection moulding machines with sufficient capacity (clamping force) are available, to produce the large plastic parts from which the SimGas system is built up. The joint venture will therefore establish a local injection moulding facility with 2,700 tons clamping force. This will be located at the premises of Silafrica in Dar es Salaam.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The new joint venture will be ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsAll workers will receive training. Salaries will be at least 60% above minimum wage. Other benefits include free food and water, paid time off when employees are bereaved, advance interest free loans, annual leave of 28 days, paid sick leave of 126 days per year. The joint venture will ensure safe working conditions, for example by providing ear protection, sufficient lighting etc. and maximum working periods will be: 6 days per week, 45 hours per week, 12 hours per day and 5 hours without a break.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeBecause the systems produced in Portugal are already marketed by SimGas Tanzania on a very small scale, the product and production method are new to Tanzania. Also, the market is new because only 7,000 people throughout the country have their own (conventional) biogas system.•	Chain effectsAll raw materials are being imported.End-users of the rural biogas digesters will benefit greatly. They get access to cheaper fuel, better fertiliser resulting in higher productivity and a healthier environment (micro and macro).•	Impact on the sectorThe project has a positive impact on the sub-programmes of the African Biogas Partnership Programme, who will include the SimGas system into their national programmes in Tanzania and Kenya, this way (coming closer to) achieving their targets. SimGas collaborates with local statistics bureaus in Tanzania and Kenya on the development and implementation of biogas standards, and works with the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association on convincing the government to exempt biogas from VAT, to get a level playing field with VAT exempted LPG.•	EnvironmentThe impact on the environment is very positive. A few key figures regarding environmental impact are shown below:	                                                                At the end of the project               Two years after the end of the project- Number of people replaced fossil and   solid fuels by biogas	                               100,000	                                     225,000- Wood fuel saved (tons per year)	                 45,000	                                     101,000- Charcoal saved (tons per year)	                 10,000	                                       22,500- Greenhouse gas (CO2 equivalent)  emission reduction per year	                             183 ktCO2	                                    411 ktCO2Furthermore, the joint venture will be ISO 14001 certified.•	Position of womenSlightly positive impact.The joint venture expects to hire only 12 women, 6 of whom in medium/high level positions. But the partners do expect that many women will be hired by SimGas Tanzania and other distributors to train the end-users. Also, the project has a high impact on the women in the targeted households: they reduce workload and time spent on the collection of firewood (heavy daily labour, 2-4 hours per day) and get access to clean and modern cooking fuel.•	Impact on food safetyThe project indirectly contributes to the issue of food stability, because the end-users can increase productivity by using the fertiliser out of the digester, and thereby returning minerals to the soil.The project also improves animal conditions: farmers are advised on stable improvements which lead to higher biogas production, but also to healthier and more productive animals. To establish a production facility for the production of 12,500 rural biogas systems per year for sales in (primarily) Tanzania and Kenya.