Status of Biogas Technology in Botswana

Biogas, a methane-rich renewable energy source produced via anaerobic digestion, has the potential to replace traditional biomass fuels in Africa, where over 70% of households rely on fuelwood and agricultural residues for cooking. However, biogas adoption remains limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Botswana due to policy, economic, and technical barriers. This study assesses the status of biogas technology in Botswana, identifying key challenges and opportunities for its development and integration into the country's energy system. A review of literature from Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Taylor & Francis, Google Scholar, and SpringerLink, along with grey literature from 2012 to 2022, was conducted to analyse biogas potential, existing policies, and barriers to adoption. Botswana faces several challenges in biogas development, including a heavy reliance on coal (∼90% of electricity generation), a lack of formal policies supporting methane recovery, outdated waste management regulations, low technical capacity, and limited public awareness. Despite these obstacles, the country has an estimated biogas potential of 360–750 million m³ per year, primarily from its cattle population exceeding 2 million, yet this resource remains underutilized. Conclusion: Addressing policy gaps, increasing investment, and implementing capacity-building initiatives could enhance biogas adoption, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and contributing to a circular economy. This review synthesizes fragmented information on Botswana's biogas sector, providing a comprehensive assessment of barriers and opportunities while highlighting future directions such as landfill gas recovery and agro-waste methane extraction.