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Bioenergy Development in Africa: Opportunities and

Challenges

Dr. Ben MuokAfrican Centre for Technology Studies

(ACTS)

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• In Africa Bioenergy contribute up to 80% of energy requirement of some rural communities

• Most countries less than 10% connected to the grid

• Dependence on biomass is unlikely to change in the near future – with consequences on the environment and health

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• Over 90% of Tanzanians derive their energy needs from biomass

• 2 % of rural households and 39 % of urban households have access to electricity

energy supply by source in Kenya (IAEA 2007)

0.4%

5.9%

19.1%

74.6%

electricitypetroleum productscoalbomass

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What are Main Drivers?

• Energy security• Carbon emissions• High oil price• Economic development

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African Perspective• Promoting development is the most

important consideration in the African context, including economic development and energy access for rural communities.

• With business-as-usual, Africa will not meet the MDGs of halving the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day by 2015

• Achieving this target implies a need for increased access to energy

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World energy consumptionEnergy consumption - Per capita Tonnes oil equivalent (toe)

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• Fuel type

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Opportunities

• Africa, as a region, has the most significant amount of underutilized renewable energy sources, but has been slow at mobilizing this potential.

• Cheap labour• Growing economy• Low grid connection

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• Many countries in Africa with tropical climates are suitable for growing biofuel feedstock

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• Because of its climatic conditions and land availability many developed countries are turning to Africa to meet there commitments in for biofuel

• It is also a fact that the emerging opportunities for biofuel production in the region could potentially be an avenue for mitigating chronic food security in Africa”

• However, the domestic opportunities that bioenergy offer come with trade-offs.

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• If not well planned bioenergy development has the potential to:• Displace rural poor• Deny poor access to natural resources• Destroy biodiversity• Displace food & cash crops• Deplete/pollute water resources

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Why Africa needs careful consideration?

• Africa is not monolithic as many tend to think– Different land tenure– Different resource base– Different socio-cultural conditions

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Challenges

• Policy and regulatory framework• Technology• Capacity• Sustainability question• External financial flows have been

small, relative to the potential.

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Conclusion• There are abundant bioenergy

recourses in Africa• Appropriate policy at national and

regional level is required for sustainable bioenergy.

• Such policies should consider the environmental, political, social, economic, cultural and natural heritage of individual countries and the region.

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Thank you for your attention!

b.muok@acts.or.kewww.pisces.or.ke