Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) is a member-based, community organisation that creates social value through engineering. Through partnership and collaboration they have focused on developing skills, knowledge and appropriate engineering solutions for over 14 years.
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One of EWB projects is to install Biodigester systems, allowing families in rural Cambodia to utilise gas as a source of reliable and free energy, replacing traditional wood-burning cook stoves with a cleaner, healthier, and eco-friendly alternative. The system also produces a high-quality organic fertilizer that increases crop yield and can also be used as a substitute for chemical fertilizer. Combining these benefits, an average rural Cambodian family can save up to $500 per year. You can see a very interesting video on this project below.
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Bunderra Foundation has made significant contributions which has already supported fifteen families in a remote area in Cambodia, with more to receive the ATEC Biodigester system.
Update on the most recent families to receive Biodigesters
September 2024
This is Bunderra Foundation's 8th project with ATEC, this one to install 5 biodigesters in Siem Reap. Bunderra Foundation were provided with all the names of the five customers who received these Biodigesther, along with pictures of them all with their newly installed equipment. In addition to Bunderra's contribution each family contributed $50 to the installation.
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All 5 customers have always used firewood and charcoal as their main cooking fuel with a backup of bhutan gas. Now with a biodigester, every customer will have enough gas in order to fulfill their daily cooking needs.
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Every customer will need to feed their biodigester daily with fresh manure in order to achieve optimum gas production. This incentivises farmers to make use of manure, which is then outputted as bio-slurry, which can be used as fertilizer to achieve 10-36% on their crop yield.
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There are many households in the area who are suitable for ATEC biodigesters. They do understand the benefit but currently must say no because they would need to find the funds ($50), which may mean selling their cow, as they do not currently have a source of income. They are struggling financially, but still have a big heart and are keen to wait for another chance next time when time is right for them.
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We look forward to continue our support of this project in order to help as many families at possible. ​
New families to receive Biodigesters
July 2024
EWB are planning to work with another 5 families in Siem Reap province again due to our contribution. This region had the biggest challenges in the past years, during and post pandemic, due to its heavy exposure to and dependence on tourism. Things are picking up well recently but are still far from pre-COVID, hence EWB see that there is still a lot of demand for their solution.
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We look forward to hearing updates and seeing the pictures of the families that we have bene able to assist, along with EWB.
An update on the 5 recent Biodigesters - Cambodia
As a quick update from Cambodia, the past batch of farmers we supported are all doing well and enjoying their biodigester. As part of our ongoing customer support, EWB still check in with them on a regular basis so that the bios operate well and all their questions are taken care of. EWB had no particular incidents with the supported farmers, beyond the normal interactions.
One of the five got in touch for blockage and as a consequence not having had enough biogas available. EWB visited them, unblocked and used the opportunity to train them on proper filling, handling and troubleshooting - all has been running smoothly since. They have noticed an increased interest in the bioslurry as a byproduct from running the biodigesters as a clean cooking solution, that's great as farmers become more aware on the great quality of this organic fertilizer they produce with their bio, and help spread the word to other farmers
5 more biodigesters
We will be involved in installing a further 5 biodigesters in remote areas of Cambodia, bringing a total of 15 being installed over the last three years
The five biodigesters we installed last year have made great changes to the families lives and are also helping the environment with reductions in greenhouse gases and saving the use of the forests for fuel.
Our directors had a wonderful visit to Cambodia last year and we able to witness firsthand the positive impact the biodigesters are having. They are looking forward to returning there soon.
ATEC Biodigester
October 2019
Recently, in October 2019, directors Trish and Rene were fortunate enough to visit with some of the recipients of the ATEC Biodigester in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
It was wonderful to see the huge improvement the Biodigester makes to everyday life and the positive effect that it has on the environment.
The families were very hospitable and very appreciative of the Biodigester and the changes that it had made to their lives.
Since our first donation, the Bunderra Foundation has now provided 10 biodigesters to Cambodia.
ATEC Biodigester project
December 2018
As explained above, Bunderra Foundation made a significant donation to Engineers without Borders for their ATEC Biodigester project. We are very pleased to announce the successful installation of 5 biodigesters in the Kratei Province.
Five families have significantly benefited from these installations, each of them contributing $100 directly towards their own system. All five of these customers relied solely on firewood for their cooking but with a biodigester, every customer will have enough gas for all daily cooking needs.
For households ATEC’s experience is that we won’t 100% replace the use of wood/charcoal as this will still be used for special cooking occasions (eg grilling fish as doing this with wood/charcoal tastes better or when their relative gathering at once for any occasion) but it’s going to replace the vast majority of cooking needs.
Every customer will need to feed their biodigester daily with fresh manure in order to achieve optimum gas production. This incentivises farmers to make use of manure which then outputted as bio-slurry which can be used as fertiliser to achieve 10-36% on their crop yield.
Bunderra Foundation is every proud to have been involved with this project. It is a very satisfying feeling knowing that we have been able to significantly help five families with their day to day lives.
