From Zambia to Uganda: BTZ Completes First International Biodigester Project
Biogas Technology Zambia (BTZ) has completed its first international commercial biodigester project in Jinja, Uganda, where a 200m³ plant is processing between 1,000 and 3,000 kilograms of fish mortalities each day and producing approximately 100 to 120m³ of biogas daily.
Yalelo Uganda awarded BTZ the $25,000 United States dollars contract in November 2025, with the project running from 8th November, 2025 to 15th January, 2026. It marks a a significant step in the Zambian company’s expansion into the regional market.
The project was developed around a specific challenge faced by large-scale aquaculture operations, which is to manage fish mortalities responsibly while also reducing the environmental and operational costs associated with disposal.
Before the biodigester, Yalelo Uganda used burial and pit disposal for fish mortalities generated through its operations.
The new system has changed that process by now allowing 100 percent of the fish mortalities to be digested on site, turning the waste into useful outputs rather than treating it solely as a disposal problem.
From Fish Waste to Biogas
The 200m³ biodigester processes between 1,000 and 3,000 kilograms of fish mortalities every day, depending on the amount generated by the operation.
From this feedstock, the plant produces an average of 100 to 120m³ of biogas per day.
The gas is being used for cooking and heating water at the Yalelo facility and currently meets all the cooking energy requirements for its 1,200 workers each day.
This has allowed the facility to switch fully to biogas for these activities, replacing electricity, firewood, and LPG that were previously used for heating and cooking.
The biodigester is also producing approximately 110 to 135 tonnes of pathogen-free organic fertiliser every month.
The resulting bio-slurry is being used on Yalelo’s fodder and crop farms, creating another use for the material produced through the digestion process.
Environmental Benefits
BTZ estimates that this is equivalent to avoiding approximately 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
The system has also eliminated leachate and runoff from fish mortalities into the Lake Victoria basin, and since commissioning, zero contamination incidents have been recorded.
The sealed nature of the system has further helped address some of the problems associated with exposed fish waste, including flies, odour, and rodents while reducing the risk of disease spread.
The plant has consistently processed between 1,000 and 3,000 kilograms of fish mortalities per day without a backlog since commissioning.
For Yalelo, this means that a material that previously required disposal is now contributing to the facility’s energy and agricultural activities.
A Regional Opportunity for Zambian Engineering
The Yalelo project also represents a step beyond the technology itself as it is BTZ’s first project outside Zambia. It provides an opportunity for Zambian engineering expertise to be applied to an aquaculture operation in another country.
“This contract is a proud moment for BTZ and for Zambia,” said Kasaila Musonda Biogas Technology Zambia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) / Managing Director (MD). “To be selected by a regional leader like Yalelo Uganda is proof that our technology, quality and project delivery meet international standards. We are excited to show that solutions developed here in Zambia can create impact across Africa.”
The project was supported by a team of 20 personnel from Uganda, comprising 15 general workers and five professional builders.
The involvement of the Ugandan team provided opportunities for local participation and skills transfer during implementation, while BTZ brought its technical expertise to the project.
The partnership has also continued beyond the construction of the new plant.
Yalelo Uganda has awarded BTZ an addendum to the existing contract to clean and repair an older biodigester plant that was constructed at the site approximately four years ago.
The additional work gives BTZ a continued role at the facility and further demonstrates the working relationship established through the initial project.
Turning a Waste Challenge into a Resource
The successful completion of the Yalelo project places BTZ in a stronger position to pursue further commercial biogas opportunities in aquaculture and agribusiness across East and Southern Africa.
It also demonstrates how a solution developed and delivered by a Zambian company can be adapted to address energy, waste, and environmental challenges in another African market.