In developing countries, biogas energy research should be planned and conducted as the main factor leading to its contribution to the solution of energy problems. Keeping this in mind, the results of the research should be applicable on a nation-wide scale and constitute a part of the country’s development plan. In many of the developing countries, there is remain some basic research areas mostly on the quantity and potential biogas yield of fermentable organic wastes available, the size and type of biogas digesters which can be economically viable for the potential consumers of the biogas technology.

Biogas technology research in selected sub-Saharan African countries has recently been reviewed by Mshandete and Parawira (2009). The review provided an insight and update of the state of biogas technology research in some selected sub-Saharan African countries in peer reviewed literature. An attempt was made to pinpoint future research in critically reviewing the biogas technology research. The methane-producing potential of various agriculturally sourced feedstocks has been researched, as has the advantages of co-digestion to improve carbon-to-nitrogen ratios and the use of pretreatment to improve the hydrolysis rates. Some optimisation techniques associated with anaerobic digestion including basic design considerations of single or two-stage systems, pretreatment, co-digestion, environmental conditions within the reactor such as temperature, pH, buffering capacity have been attempted in some of the researches in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. However, there appears to be little research in biogas technology in many sub-Saharan African countries in internationally peer reviewed literature. However, biogas technology research will only have an impact if relevant and appropriate areas of research are identified and prioritised.