Stakes and perspectives of biofuels for Africa: Synthesis and conclusions

Abstract

The main objective was to provide governments and policy makers of ECOWAS countries an objective assessment of the potential of biofuels in Africa. Indeed, it is necessary, more than ever, to assess the true potential of biofuels in Africa. This should be done on rational bases by illustrating their opportunities and benefits while bearing in mind their limitations and risks to the environment, economy and society. In most countries in Africa, economic growth leads to significant increase of energy needs. A difficult access to energy unquestionably represents a major handicap to development. The current escalation of the price of crude oil and other raw materials weakens most countries’ economies and household incomes, particularly for low income households. Biofuels certainly are an option that should not be neglected, but national energy, agriculture and tariff strategies, to mention only a few, must be based on a thorough evaluation of the various possible scenarios. These include biodiesel or ethanol production for export versus the implementation of short term production of vegetable oils for rural electrification. These are real political choices resulting in economic, social and environmental consequences that are radically different. Indeed, it could be thought that biofuels for export will concern rather a type of industrial agriculture that can create jobs, while the solutions in the second case will satisfy the agro-sylvo-pastoral systems with potentially less risk to the environment.