2026 Biogas Workshop Series: Biogas for Municipalities - Current Projects & Future Opportunities

The Southern African Biogas Industry Association (SABIA), in collaboration with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the German Biogas Association (GBA), hosted the second workshop in their collaborative series exploring the role of biogas in the municipal context. Building on the first workshop, which introduced the contribution of biogas to the circular economy, this session focused on current and planned municipal biogas projects in South Africa, international project experience, and practical opportunities for municipalities to adopt and scale biogas solutions. The workshop brought together perspectives from local government, industry and international biogas experts to explore how biogas can support sustainable waste management, wastewater treatment, renewable energy generation and resource recovery. Featured Speakers Mokgadi Maphoto – City of Johannesburg Head of Sustainable Waste Projects and Minimisation Programme Mokgadi presented on the City of Johannesburg's planned biogas initiative, sharing a municipal perspective on the development of biogas projects and their potential contribution to sustainable waste management. Gary Brown – Cambi Manager: Southern and Sub-Saharan African Branches Gary presented international case studies of facilities using advanced anaerobic digestion. Drawing on his extensive experience in wastewater treatment, sludge management and technology applications, he explored how international projects and technologies could be relevant to South African municipalities. Marc Reinhard – German Biogas Association (GBA) Marc shared insights into how municipalities in Germany and Europe utilise biogas technology, highlighting international experiences and approaches that could inform the development of municipal biogas projects in South Africa. Key Topics Discussed Current and planned municipal biogas projects in South Africa. The City of Johannesburg's planned biogas initiative. International case studies involving advanced anaerobic digestion. Municipal applications of biogas technology in Germany and Europe. Opportunities for biogas in organic waste management, wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Lessons and considerations for developing and implementing municipal biogas projects. The role of partnerships between municipalities, industry, universities and other stakeholders in advancing the biogas sector. Moving from Potential to Practice Biogas offers municipalities an opportunity to transform organic waste and other suitable feedstocks into valuable resources, including renewable energy and digestate. By connecting municipal plans with practical project experience and international lessons, the workshop aimed to support knowledge-sharing and encourage further exploration of biogas solutions across South Africa. SABIA, SALGA and GBA remain committed to strengthening collaboration and promoting greater awareness of the opportunities biogas presents for municipalities and the circular economy. Learn more: SABIA: https://www.sabia.org.za/ If you found this workshop useful, please like the video, share it with your network and subscribe to the SABIA YouTube channel for more biogas industry updates, technical discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions. #SABIA #SALGA #GermanBiogasAssociation #Biogas #MunicipalBiogas #CircularEconomy #AnaerobicDigestion #RenewableEnergy #WasteManagement #WastewaterTreatment #SouthAfrica