Russia to lower use of fossil fuels with biogas

Russia is turning to biogas in a bid to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

According to the Energy Ministry, Russia has the potential to generate 66 billion m3 of biogas a year from agricultural waste. This could produce 110 billion KW/h of electricity, 1 billion GJ of heat or 8.7 billion gallons of petrol or diesel.

The Energy and Agriculture Ministries are now urging the Russian government to implement subsidies to encourage the use of these alternative energy sources in the nation.

'Without these measures, bioenergy has no future in Russia, Shamil Vakhitov, deputy agricultural minister, says.