Burundi : alternative energy, peat II provisional evaluation

Special evaluation covers the period 8/80-8/82 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with USAID/B, ONATOUR, and other officials. Prospects for the project's future are good. Peat production at the Ijenda, Kisozi, and Matana bogs has impressively increased from about 1,500 tons (1978) to 6,300 tons (l98l), mainly due to greater efficiency and manual productivity. However, a 6-month AID/W waiver-approval delay resulted in the late (9/81) introduction of 3 semi-automatic peat macerators (SAM's), the failure to meet the 1981 production target of 12,500 tons, and postponement of the purchase of 17 additional SAM's; further, it appears the SAM may not be the best mechanization choice. ONATOUR has not yet tapped the targeted urban domestic market due to lack of a peat surplus and the delayed development of an appropriate cooking stove: 70% of sales are still to the Burundian army and 30% to religious missions, small businesses, and artisans. Stove design and carbonization studies are underway; the latter may yield alternative domestic peat uses. Although ONATOUR is operating on a deficit basis, the GOB has made up the shortfalls on a timely basis and negotiated two substantial peat price raises to the army. Also, the opening of a new access road and increased production levels should reduce average peat production costs. ONATOUR has filled all of its senior positions with qualified, although inexperienced, personnel; its director is attending long-term training. Problems have included: production inefficiencies (e.g., lack of an onsite system for weighing peat); TA recruitment delays and lack of role clarity; delayed office construction; and lack of transportation and high demonstration costs for ONATOUR's publicity efforts. The GRB has fulfilled the financial/administrative conditions precedent to additional disbursement (the construction conditions precedent remain). Recommendations include to test three harvesting technologies in 1982 before procuring additional machinery.