Description :
The current project aims to go further in the fight against this weed. It aims to use the water hyacinth on a large scale in Mali to locally control its spread and to exploit its energy and biological potential. The hyacinth plants are harvested with machinery specially designed for the task, then fermented/methanised in bioreactors/biodigestors to produce biogas which is then converted into electricity as well as fertilizer. Besides the direct benefits obtained from electricity production and from agricultural soil improvement, an environmental benefit is obtained from the reduced infestation of this aquatic plant which has a negative impact on the River Niger. Improvements are therefore obtained for navigation, irrigation of rice fields, water flow in irrigation channels, fishing and human health. The same applies concerning problems incurred for the running of hydroelectric plants due to water hyacinth clogging up the river.  

General objectives:

The project ecological, economic and social objectives should be able to be reached while at the same time integrating the specific cultural conditions of Mali, through:

• the use of a renewable energy as well as the production of electricity which is in high demand in Mali, 
• the fight against an invasive plant which constrains Mali’s development, just as it does in many other tropical countries,
• the production of fertiliser thereby improving soil quality and reducing soil erosion,
• the development of local employment to harvest the raw plant material, the sale of fertiliser and the running of the electricity production plant,
• the potential development of a financially sustainable infrastructure which is easily replicable.