Prospects for Coal Briquettes as a Substitute Fuel for Wood and ...

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Aligm. Located in the Sahel, Niger has one of the lowest per capita
incomes (US83301 and energy intensities in Africa. The country is
mostly desert with only 12% of the land base arable. In recent yearsI
recurring droughts, decl ining sol1 fertil ity, and increasing
desertification have created severe hardships for the population. The
rate of grawth of the population has, in factr declined over the last
decade. HoWeverr rural migration is increasing, and the urban
population now accounts for lQ% of the total. A sizable proportion,
about 16%, of the rural populatlon is still nmadic.
The country's principal export commodity and primary source of foreign
exchange is uranium. In 19816 Niger was the fourth largest supplier of
uranium in the world. The prospects for further developnent of this
export commodity are not favorable. The developnent of other mineral
resources is a1 so unl ikely because of depressed world prices and
remoteness of the deposits.
Firwood 1s the traditional fuel in Niger accounting for Over 85% of
total energy consumptfon. In 198lS there were 74Z9155 Toe consumed in
the household sector and 82,460 Toe consumed by small industry.
Additionally, scme charcoal was used by small industry (2,245 Toe).
Because the popul ati on i s concentrated, there i s consi derabl e
overexpl oi tation and scarcities of the woad resources around major
papulation centers. The wood energy balance far Niger is summarized in
Table C.3.
Table C.3. Fuelwood energy balance for Niger (19811
(Tonnes of 011 equivalent)
Fi rew ood
SUPPl Y
Production 83 B,5 90
Transformati on
Charcoal production ( 294 25 1
Conversion Losses (11,550)
Demand
Small industry 82 J46 0
Househol ds 74~155
Bal ance 0
Charcoal
0
2,425
0
0
Source:
UNDP/Worl d Bank C19841
Reforestati on, substi tuti on of kerosene and butane, and fuel ef fici ent
stove programs have been or are under consi deration as possi bl e options
for alleviating fuelwood scarcities. The developnent of indigenous coal
resources for household use is also under consideration. There are
significant coal reserves (9.4 MMannes) located in the northern Niger
that are now under production to generate electricity for uranium