Liquid Biofuels Strategies and Policies in selected African ... - Pisces

Most biofuels policy frameworks in Africa are still to be adopted and implemented.The first wave of activity is focusing on large scale production driven by foreign directinvestment. Resolving the current rural energy supply deficit on the scale and at thespeed needed is not yet the most active focus of many African Governments. This iscurrently leaving most rural populations (and in particular women, children and youthwho are dependent on access to land, water and traditional agricultural practices tosustain themselves), very vulnerable.Biofuels policies need to be developed and implemented to work in tandem withthe millennium development goals. Government can usefully focus on adoptingsustainability criteria, taking an integrated approach, ensuring women and men smallholders are equally included in the biofuels commercial chain, building on their existingpractices, knowledge and skills rather than demolishing their livelihoods (FAO 2008).2.2.6 Risks from migrant harvesting populationsCurrent social and environmental impact studies of large scale hand-harvestedprojects usually overlook the impact of thousands of migratory workers, with theircorresponding fuel and water needs, for the short three month harvesting seasons.These populations often stay in the area, creating increased pressure on and conflictover scarce resources, as well as indirect impacts on the environment. In contrast,increased mechanisation will decrease these problems but reduce the, oftenpromised, local employment benefits.2.2.7 Risks from competition for natural resourcesThe growth of the biofuels industry, especially ethanol production from corn, wheatand soya beans, has generated controversy for arguably undermining food securityby converting food crops into energy crops, thereby creating conflict betweenpeople’s need for energy and their need for food (Hazell P and Pauchari R.K. 2006).Furthermore, biofuels production may also deplete valuable water resources,degrade soils (quality and fertility), increase deforestation, and reduce both crop andindigenous biodiversity, especially when a framework for enabling smallholders tofully participate in their value chains is either non-existent or inefficient. However, incontrast typical biomass crops pose a different challenge for good soil managementbecause the plant material is often completely harvested, leaving little organic matteror plant nutrients for recycling back into Africa’s already nutrient poor soils. Tree basedbiofuels do not suffer so much from this problem.2.2.8 Risks from lack of inter-ministerial integrationCharacteristically many African governments have a number of different ministries whichdon’t always communicate with each other. There is a danger that if biofuels fall underthe control of Ministries of Energy, the overall agricultural, social, and environmentalpotentials and risks may not be fully appreciated from the outset. Opportunities couldbe lost, such as creating biofuels from municipal waste, and controversies may ariselater. Land acquisitions have been reversed in Mozambique, Ethiopia and Uganda anda moratorium put in place in Tanzania, all of which have affected investor confidence.Biofuels provide a huge opportunity for new forms of well-planned and integratednatural resource management and governance; what is needed is the political will tograsp the opportunity to evolve into pro-active governance.3. Economic and policy drivers and responsesin biofuels developmentAs outlined above, the main global drivers fall into four main categories:Energy security and diversification: Ever increasing global human populations anddemand for cheap energy, added to the imminent threat of ‘Peak Oil’, the politicalinstability and oil-induced wars in many oil p sroducing nations, as well as rapidlyfluctuating oil prices, have all stimulated a serious drive in research and investmentinto alternative energy sources, as well as energy efficiency. As prices fluctuate,fossil fuel importers seek to reduce their import bills and develop greater energydiversification and self-sufficiency.Slowing climate change: The majority of scientists are in agreement that the burningof fossil fuels and land use changes are actively contributing to rapid climate andweather pattern changes, which is also driving the search for ‘renewable’ energy andthe stimulation of potential carbon markets.Sustainable rural and agricultural development: In developing Africa, the drive todevelop biofuels is also being fuelled by the realisation that unsustainable dependenceon wood fuel is leading to rapid deforestation, seriously threatening water catchmentareas and land productivity, as well as wildlife and biodiversity. The greatest challengesare, and will be, in the arid and semi arid lands of the many African countries.Economic drivers: As stock exchange markets develop, more and more investorsare turning to the Energy sector as an investment opportunity. This has led todevelopment of varied investment opportunities particular in African Countries. Theissue with economic drivers is not so much the fear of climate change or energyinsecurity but rather the need to make a return on the investment done. This has hadboth positive and negative impacts.Many countries have responded to these drivers and challenges with either biofuelsPolicies, or at least government supported strategies. Key approaches identified fromnational policies and strategies include:3.1 Best practices aspects/ingredients in developinga national biofuels industry• Large-scale public investment into coordinated National research and developmentprogrammes on feedstock development and distribution to farmers, includingcertifying institutions/organisations (e.g. EMBRAPA Brazil, Indian Governmentcentre for biomass research (over 400 species under investigation), BDFZ Germany,Nigeria.• Large-scale public investment into coordinated research and development ofeach section of the value chain with close linkages to the private sector producersand distributors to improve efficiencies and bring down production costs to becompetitive with fossil fuels (e.g. PROALCOOL in Brazil, India, USA and Canada).• A national registry of feedstock availability, processing facilities and up-take toprovide necessary data for price reviews to avoid a mismatch between supply anddemand (example of what happened in India).• Focus on pro-poor rural development led by small-scale farmers; models of22 Liquid Biofuels Strategies and Policies in selected African Countries Liquid Biofuels Strategies and Policies in selected African Countries 23