BURUNDI ALTERNATE ENERGY -- PEAT ACCELERATED IMPACT PROGRAM

Evaluation covers the period 8/79-11/79, and was conducted onsite by REDSO/EA. The Catholic Relief Service (CRS) is implementing the project, with emphasis on production technology and development of a local market. Nevertheless, technical problems have occurred. For example, there was a 40% loss of production due to crumbling. The institutional development of ONATOUR (Office Nationale de la Tourbe) is progressing slowly. ONATOUR has a professional staff of five -- a staff of 20 was planned. A second planned output called for the production of 40,000 tons of peat during the life of the project. Currently, two bogs are operating, which together produced 5,200 tons in 1979. ONATOUR has assumed responsibility for a third bog, and will open two or three new bogs during the next harvest season. Total production is expected to be 18,000 tons. A lack of labor and technical assistance have proved to be major constraints. Marketing of low-cost peat to the rural poor was also planned. Several factors prevented the realization of this output: Peat gives off excessive smoke; Onatour"s demonstration efforts have not been effective; and high transportation and distribution costs caused ONATOUR to concentrate instead on institutional consumers such as schools and prisons. Planned research and sociological studies have not been started. Other negative factors included: delayed transfer of funds from A.I.D. to CRS; insufficient budgeting for technical assistance from Ireland; the Liberation War in Uganda, which caused scarcities of fuel and other imports; and a postal strike in Ireland, which also slowed the recruitment of technicians. Project experience has shown that A.I.D. field staff should devote more time to implementation--even when a contractor has overall implementation rsponsibility; that extension efforts should be included in the design of pilot activities; and that project studies should be initiated early. In addition, recommendations are made concerning ONATOUR"s institutional and financial management.