STOCKHOLM, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Goeteborg Energi, one of Sweden's largest energy companies, is building the world's biggest biogas plant, with a capacity of 1,600 cubic meters per hour, local media reported on Friday.

    If running at full capacity, the plant, set for operation in December, will be able to produce enough clean fuel to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15,000 tonnes per year.

    Goeteborg Energi chief executive Hans Malm said to TT news agency that demand for clean fuel for cars was such that five more biogas plants could be built in Sweden over the next five years.

    Sweden is acknowledged as a European leader in biogas production and technology.

    Biogas is typically methane produced by the fermentation of organic matter including manure, wastewater sludge and municipal solid waste under anaerobic conditions.

    Biogas use is increasingly popular because it does not increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Enditem