Brian Vuyolwethu Mandati
A TWENTY SIX year old Applied Chemistry graduate, Fortune Mswati Donga has invented a domestic biomass digester which can be used as a reliable source of energy.
Donga, a National University of Science and Technology (NUST) graduate who is based in Nkayi threw odds against him aside as he moved to justify why he spent four years at the academic institution.
A visit by The Zambezi Times news crew at Donga’s house in Nkayi revealed an unsung hero in technology stuck in the underdeveloped area.
The biomass fuelled engine prototype which converts biomass to usable energy is currently being used to power a water pump and an ore crusher.
“The science behind this invention is simply gasification. The idea was to create something that runs on cleaner fuel,” said Donga, who is popularly known as Mswati in his area.
He said he built the engine with the intent to use lantana camara as the source of fuel.
“People in Nkayi are reluctant to fight the invasive plant (lantana camara) because it will not yield them any benefit directly and thus by targeting it as a source of fuel the community can now engage in saving our environment,” he said.
Questioned on the environmental friendliness of his project Donga explained:
“The question of biomass being safe and sustainable stating that the whole process of energy harvesting is carbon neutral and reduces sulphur which is the major air pollutant in fossil fuels.
“Fossil fuels like coal and petroleum can be made cleaner by gasification which reduces sulphur in the fuel,” he added.
He was however unable to comment on the calorimeter of his machine, saying he is still evaluating the specifications with the help of his former college.
Farai Phiri, 27 a close friend to Donga said about the innovation: “The inventor kept on stressing on how his career is starting, he seems to have more brilliant ideas in mind brewing or already matured but is not ready to publish yet. Perhaps he is still looking for a market that values and cherishes ideas that are a key to the future and are as magnificent as his.”
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) postulates that Zimbabwe has a total potential of 1000MW in form of Bagasse (Sugarcane based biomass), agriculture and municipal waste, forest residues and other forms of biomas
