LocationsInauguration of Biogas Plant at Beau Bassin’s New Wing Prison supported by UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme
November 27, 2024
On Wednesday, 27 November 2024, a biogas plant was officially inaugurated at the New Wing Prison in Beau Bassin. This facility is supported by the the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC). This project, initiated by the Mauritius Prison Service in collaboration with Association Kinouété and facilitated by the technical expertise of the University of Mauritius, marks a key step towards inclusiveness, environmental sustainability and social rehabilitation in Mauritius.
This facility was built and set up by detainees and prison officers, providing a hands-on opportunity to develop valuable technical skills. By participating in such initiatives, both officers and detainees gain practical experience that supports their reintegration into society and opens pathways for meaningful employment opportunities. To date, four officers from New Wing Prison have been trained in the operation of the biogas plant and they will train 10 detainees who work in the prison's kitchen. Women detainees from the Women’s Prison will also be involved in training on the biodigester processes and maintenance.
Mrs. Pamela Bapoo-Dundoo, National Coordinator, UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme emphasized the importance of innovation in achieving socio-economic transformation :
“By equipping inmates with valuable skills through initiatives like the biogas plant, we not only decrease greenhouse gases emissions but also promote environmental sustainability, enhance their opportunities for meaningful employment and reintegration into society, contributing to long-term socio-economic transformation.”
Honourable Rajesh Bhagwan, Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, highlighted the potential of this initiative, stating “If implemented across Mauritius, this project could significantly reduce the amount of organic waste sent to the Mare Chicose landfill.”
The biogas plant aligns with the broader objectives of promoting environmental sustainability and advancing the human rights-based and rehabilitative approaches to incarceration. This facility leverages innovative and low-cost biogas technology to convert organic waste into energy, providing a renewable energy source for the prison while supporting the food security and environmental goals of the correctional services. The plant will process 30 kg of biodegradable waste daily, collected from the kitchens of the New Wing Prison, Beau Bassin Prison, Women’s Prison, Police Training School and Brown Sequard Hospital. If necessary, additional waste will be sourced from Beau Bassin Market.
The biogas produced will be used in the kitchen at New Wing Prison to prepare meals three times a day for approximately 350 detainees. The energy generated will cover half of the prison's current cooking needs, which uses 12 gas cylinders per month. Large balloons have been installed to collect the biogas, with all appropriate security measures in place. The system is furthermore equipped with a solar water heater which will allow a flow of hot water through pipes outside the biodigester to increase the temperature to boost the process. It is also connected to two methane gas dehydrating and de-sulphurising system to provide with clean gas for cooking. The sludge from the digester, a nutrient-rich soil enhancer, will be used in the prison’s agricultural initiatives, contributing to food production on-site.
The biogas plant is expected to serve as a model for innovative, sustainable practices that can be replicated across other sectors and institutions, contributing to the broader goals of environmental sustainability, energy independence and rehabilitation within the correctional system.