Bioenergy Development in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

1. Bioenergy Development in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges Dr. Ben Muok African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

2. 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

3. Over 90% of Tanzanians derive their energy needs from biomass 2 % of rural households and 39 % of urban households have access to electricity

8. What are Main Drivers? Energy security Carbon emissions High oil price Economic development

9. 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

10. World energy consumption Energy consumption - Per capita Tonnes oil equivalent (toe)

11. Fuel type

12. 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

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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. Why Africa needs careful consideration? • Africa is not monolithic as many tend to think • Different land tenure • Different resource base • Different socio-cultural conditions

17. Challenges • Policy and regulatory framework • Technology • Capacity • Sustainability question • External financial flows have been small, relative to the potential.

18. 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.

19. Thank you for your attention! b.muok@acts.or.ke www.pisces.or.ke