CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY The cost and scarcity of improved petroleum products used for agricultural, industrial and domestic fuels are drastically increasing. This makes it very difficult for most people to rise beyond subsistence level especially in developing countries like Nigeria. There is the problem of environmental pollution due to the release of by-products such as SO2, PbO, CO2, etc. when petroleum products are used in internal combustion engines. The use of firewood as fuel for domestic energy supply also causes environmental pollution as well as desertification, erosion and reduced biodiversity due to the frequent indiscriminate felling of trees. There is also the problem of tremendous amount of biodegradable wastes produced everyday due to increase in population, which of course constitutes nuisance to the environment and reduces the aesthetic (beautiful) value of the environment. If the subsistence and the developmental needs of such developing countries are to be met as well as reduce environmental hazards, there is therefore the need to think about alternative energy sources, which are cheap, abundant and environmentally friendly. Biogas technology appears to have promise as an alternative way of getting energy and at the same time, could alleviate environmental problems and enhance agricultural production.

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