'Biofuels Markets Africa' event kicks off

Today, the first-ever conference on the opportunities to develop biofuels in Africa kicks off in Cape Town, South Africa. The two-day Biofuels Markets Africa event has a very interesting agenda bringing together speakers from government, academia, business and civil society who will be addressing a wide range of issues crucial to the development of a viable green fuel industry in sub-Saharan Africa.

The potential for the production of bioenergy and biofuels on the continent is very large: according to research by the IEA's Bioenergy Task 40 group, which studies sustainable international bioenergy trade, sub-Saharan Africa's technical potential is projected to stand at around 317 Exajoules by 2050 under optimal conditions. This is the maximum amount of bioenergy that could be produced sustainably, without causing environmental damage and without jeopardising food supplies for growing populations. To give an idea, 317 Exajoules of energy roughly amounts to 142 million barrels of oil equivalent per day - an immense amount.

But just as the technical potential is immense, so are the challenges to transform it into real outputs (earlier post). Particularly in Africa. It is these difficulties and barriers that take center stage at the Biofuels Markets Africa event.

The global context
Day one of the conference presents an overview of biofuels developments globally and focuses on important aspects such as the link between oil prices and biofuels, longterm fossil fuel price projections and the scale of the economic opportunity in Africa for the development of a green energy industry.

Importantly, Brazil’s 30 year old success story with ethanol is presented to show the possibilities and lessons Africa's nascent biofuel industry can draw from that country's experience. The crucial question will be asked: can African countries emulate the success of the Brazilian biofuels market? Something Biopact takes to heart will be discussed as well, namely the potential for South-South cooperation in the sector. Brazilian speakers will highlight opportunities for the country to work together with Africa and to share knowledge, technology and expertise.

Europe's experience with biofuels is radically different from Brazil's - with the EU's strategies circling around fixed production targets and its emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but with its agricultural policies mired by subsidies and trade barriers. The conference asks what Africa can learn from the EU's supranational strategies, but also how it can avoid certain European mistakes.

Finally, India is a country that has recognised biofuel development as being of strategic importance to its longterm energy security. The subcontinent is rapidly becoming a strong player when it comes to creating new technologies for the conversion of biomass into bioproducts, something the African continent can aim to replicate:
ethanol :: biodiesel :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: biofuels markets :: Clean Development Mechanism :: Brazil :: India :: EU :: Africa ::

The role of governments
Day one continues with a set of sessions on regulation and policy work essential to market development in Africa. After a case-study which focuses on Ghana's policy framework and legislation, the session will address issues such as government incentives, the government’s role in the industry, ways to reducing dependency on fossil fuel imports, enhancing energy security, and ways of incorporating rural communities into the planting of various crops.

An interesting presentation on cultivating jatropha throughout Africa, with case-studies from South Africa, Madagascar, Zambia and Swaziland, will be given by a company which is also looking at using biofuels in mining operations - something we have focused on here at the Biopact (earlier post).

Food and fuel
The all important "food versus fuel or food and fuel" debate is highlighted as well by a speaker from the FAO. The potential competition for production factors between food, fibre and fuel will be analysed as will the question of whether there is an impact on agricultural commodity markets when biofuels are produced on a large scale. The FAO analyst will look at strategies for creating synergies between sectors and how they might work in sub-Saharan Africa in particular.

The Clean Development Mechanism and African biofuels
Finally, the conference looks at the UN's Clean Development Mechanism and how it applies to the African context. As we reported earlier, the African continent is lagging behind winning CDM-projects and efforts to change this situation are urgently needed. Speakers will be looking specifically at CDM in industry/emissions reduction and at what factors are holding companies back to implement such projects. Ways as to how the CDM can add a revenue stream, will be presented alongside a case-study from a successful project in Kwa Zulu Natal.

Tomorrow we present an overview of day two of this important event, and we will be reporting back on the sessions as soon as they are available online.

More information:
Biofuels Markets Africa: program of the conference [*.pdf]
The organiser of the event is GreenPowerConferences, whose website can be found here.