Promoting biofuels in West Africa: An engine for development

Abstract

This chapter shows how biofuels can contribute to improve energy supply in West African countries and to alleviate poverty by creating jobs for young people who are presently very committed to emigrate to Europe. In the frame of the fight against deforestation, reduction of energy dependency, poverty and greenhouse gas emissions, the UEMOA Commission intends to stimulate the development of the biofuels sector for household energy, transportation and electricity generation with special focus on unlocking the potential of ethanol, gelfuel and biodiesel. The first phase of the UEMOA project involved the execution of a regional study on biofuels production potential and markets. This study enabled to determine and quantify market opportunities for the set-up of a supply system and the assessment of the technological, economic and financial feasibility of ethanol/gelfuel production units in the UEMOA region. In the Member States with little potential to produce ethanol (from sugarcane, cashew tree and cassava), the possibility of producing biodiesel from jatropha was evaluated. This chapter demonstrates that the region has a large potential to become a leading producer of many types of biofuels given the availability of raw materials, climate conditions, land availability and production costs. The economical and political stability of the Union favour the development of a common biofuels market that can become a substantial exporter of biofuels to the EU. The role of bioenergy in West African countries can be considerable. The application of modern bioenergy technologies can contribute to efficient energy use, reduction of dependency on imported fossil fuels, increased access to electricity, job creation and development of business opportunities between Africa and Europe.