First-ever conference explores Africa's biofuels potential
High energy prices affect the least developed countries most. Their economies are oil-intensive and they often lack financial and policy instruments with which to ease the burden. This is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa, where energy poverty and fuel scarcity already affect industries and communities alike. But precisely this continent could do what no other can: to choose for an entirely new energy paradigm, based on locally produced biofuels and bioenergy. Africa has the agro-climatic potential, and latecomer advantages over more developed regions, because the continent's fossil fuel infrastructure is not entirely developed. Whereas highly industrialised countries are stuck in the petroleum era, Africa could 'leapfrog' beyond it and into a green future. Moreover, by doing so, the continent could combine several crucial development goals: achieving energy security, reducing poverty and intensifying rural development.
But it will not be easy to turn such a vision into a reality. The creation of a viable biofuels industry is extremely complex and requires concerted efforts from a wide range of institutions and actors - from governments and entrepreneurs to civil society and international organisations. In order to shed a light on this potential and its complexities, Greenpowerconferences is now launching the first-ever event dedicated to exploring the future of this emerging sector in Africa. Its Biofuels Markets Africa conference will be held from November 30 to December 1 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The event's agenda [*.pdf] covers the future of the sector from a broad range of perspectives. Expert speakers from major organisations and companies will address issues like the technical and economic potential of biofuels in different regions of the continent, the need for institutional development and dedicated policies, the creation of trade rules and tax regimes, or the debate on 'food versus fuel'. Possible synergies between fossil fuel and biofuels producers will be discussed, as will the role of governments and non-governmental organisations in the sector. Crucially, the investment, management and financing strategies needed unlock Africa's biofuels potential will take center stage at the conference.
The tension between environmental sustainability and economic viability is a key issue for the successful development of a biofuels sector. This is why Biofuels Markets Africa has also invited speakers from Brazil to highlight this country's long experience with green fuels. Brazil has successfully overcome these tensions, and now acts as a guiding light for other developing nations. As South-South and North-South exchanges in the sector intensify, both India's perspective on bioenergy as well as lessons to be learned from Europe's highly developed biofuels market complete the event.
Interestingly, the conference also focuses on a number of case-studies from Africa itself. Both large-scale producers of biofuels already active on the continent share their vision on doing business in Africa, while presentations of small-scale bioenergy projects allow us to learn more about the local effects of green energy on rural communities. Finally, the Clean Development Mechanism and its potential role in the biofuels industry is explored by experts who have implemented CDM-projects in Africa.
The African continent has long remained a black spot on the global map of biofuels initiatives. Its potential is well-known, but a multitude of challenges remains. By bringing together key experts and industry leaders, the Biofuels Markets Africa conference will give us a first hint at how to address these challenges and at what Africa's green future might look like. Once this major event kicks off, we will be reporting back on it on a regular basis [entry ends here].
ethanol :: biodiesel :: biomass :: bioenergy :: energy :: sustainability :: conference :: biofuels :: Africa ::
But it will not be easy to turn such a vision into a reality. The creation of a viable biofuels industry is extremely complex and requires concerted efforts from a wide range of institutions and actors - from governments and entrepreneurs to civil society and international organisations. In order to shed a light on this potential and its complexities, Greenpowerconferences is now launching the first-ever event dedicated to exploring the future of this emerging sector in Africa. Its Biofuels Markets Africa conference will be held from November 30 to December 1 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The event's agenda [*.pdf] covers the future of the sector from a broad range of perspectives. Expert speakers from major organisations and companies will address issues like the technical and economic potential of biofuels in different regions of the continent, the need for institutional development and dedicated policies, the creation of trade rules and tax regimes, or the debate on 'food versus fuel'. Possible synergies between fossil fuel and biofuels producers will be discussed, as will the role of governments and non-governmental organisations in the sector. Crucially, the investment, management and financing strategies needed unlock Africa's biofuels potential will take center stage at the conference.
The tension between environmental sustainability and economic viability is a key issue for the successful development of a biofuels sector. This is why Biofuels Markets Africa has also invited speakers from Brazil to highlight this country's long experience with green fuels. Brazil has successfully overcome these tensions, and now acts as a guiding light for other developing nations. As South-South and North-South exchanges in the sector intensify, both India's perspective on bioenergy as well as lessons to be learned from Europe's highly developed biofuels market complete the event.
Interestingly, the conference also focuses on a number of case-studies from Africa itself. Both large-scale producers of biofuels already active on the continent share their vision on doing business in Africa, while presentations of small-scale bioenergy projects allow us to learn more about the local effects of green energy on rural communities. Finally, the Clean Development Mechanism and its potential role in the biofuels industry is explored by experts who have implemented CDM-projects in Africa.
The African continent has long remained a black spot on the global map of biofuels initiatives. Its potential is well-known, but a multitude of challenges remains. By bringing together key experts and industry leaders, the Biofuels Markets Africa conference will give us a first hint at how to address these challenges and at what Africa's green future might look like. Once this major event kicks off, we will be reporting back on it on a regular basis [entry ends here].
ethanol :: biodiesel :: biomass :: bioenergy :: energy :: sustainability :: conference :: biofuels :: Africa ::
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