The implementation of the biogas technology on large scale may be prevented or slowed down by a number of constraints. They may be grouped as follows: political, social-cultural, financial, informational, institutional, technical and training (Omer and Fadalla, 2003, Ni and Nyns, 1996). Some of the difficulties encountered in the development of anaerobic treatment for biogas production in developing countries are in Table 3.

There is lack of coherent biogas technology strategy in many sub-Saharan African countries despite the increase in the price of conventional fuel on a daily basis, and their rising demand mainly to technical and non-technical factors. The main contentious problems of biogas commercialisation in sub-Saharan African countries relate to economics and political will and many site-specific issues. Some of these issues are informed by local dynamics of perceptions; influenced by personal, social and institutional factors and beliefs, as well as internal conflicts, due to perceived environmental, social and ecological risks, that were aggravated by miscommunication and the lack of understanding.

• Inexperienced contractors and consultants, resulting in poor-quality plants, and poor choice of materials.

• Lack of reliable information on the potential benefits of the technology by financial institutions.

• Complete absence of academic, bureaucratic, legislation and commercial infrastructure in the region/country.

• Lack of knowledge on the system in practice, sometimes even in research institutes and universities.

• Community acceptance issues and poor ownership responsibility by users.

• Complete absence of pilot studies, and no full-scale experience.

• No properly educated operators, lack of credibility, lack of technical knowledge on maintenance and repair.

• Uninformed or poorly informed authorities and policy makers.

• Failure by government to support biogas technology through focussed energy policy.

• Research at universities is frequently considered to be too academic in nature, even

____ when it is quite applied._______________________________________________________

Table 3. Some of the difficulties thwarting development of biogas technology in Africa (Mwakaje, 2007; Murphy, 2001, Lettinga, 2001; Lettinga, 1995, Switzenbum, 1995; Tafdrup, 1995; Iza et al., 1991)