The Uzere Community in Delta State, Nigeria is one of the largest oil producing communities in the country. Oil exploration in Uzere began in 1957 with two oil fields and 43 oil wells, now producing 53,000 barrels of crude oil per day. But despite the presence of a well established oil industry, and therefore the availability of this fossil fuel, most of the rural population depends on burning fuelwood.

Because of its accessibility and affordability, fuelwood is the main source of energy for cooking. The consistent use of wood in the rural communities of Delta State is by and large applicable to all communities in Nigeria. The rate of its consumption exceeds any afforestation programme of the federal, state and the local governments. The over dependence on forest wood as a domestic source of energy has greatly impacted the environment, leading to deforestation, high carbon emissions and health-related issues from inhaling harmful smoke.

To address this issue, the Delta State Climate Change Department of the Ministry of Environment under the Territorial Approach to Climate Change (TACC), initiated a pilot project to provide biogas technology to rural households in Uzere community. The biogas digesters use agricultural waste and food scraps from the kitchen for the generation of clean, safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy.