14.3.1 Ghana

An estimated 18 million tonnes of woodfuel is produced every year in Ghana from natural forests while the climatic and soil conditions are suitable for large-scale cultivation agriforestry. In addition to the woody biomass potential of Ghana, the country generates huge volumes of crop and animal residue that could be converted into pellets or electrical and heat energy. Apart from traditional uses of biomass, the modern bioenergy potential of Ghana remains largely unutilized.

14.3.2 Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a country of 86 million people and I think that Addis Ababa will become the capital of Africa. Here resides the African Union, comparable to the European Union. Addis Ababa also has the largest public market in Africa called Mercator. This is like a city within a city. Ethiopians are largely employed in agriculture (41% of the gross domestic product). Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in Africa, but the economy is growing rapidly at 11% per year.

The energy balance in Ethiopia is dominated by biomass energy. Eighty-eight percent of the country’s energy supply comes from biomass fuels (wood, charcoal, and agricultural residues). The government stimulates the cultivation of sugarcane

plantations and recently ethanol has started to be used as a gasoline in Addis Ababa. The main use of biomass energy is for cooking in residential and com­mercial establishments. Demand for biomass fuels is growing as rapidly as food production.

Fossil fuels provide only 9.5% of the total final energy supply, and are consumed in the transport, industry, and residential sectors. Ethiopia does not produce fossil fuels and imports all its requirements through a government agency.

All in all, Ethiopia is ideal for cultivating Jatropha or sugarcane. However, land ownership is not possible and this hampers large investments in biofuels. Ethiopia has a diverse range of renewable resources and a great potential market in its large population with growing incomes. Despite a rise in the adoption of renewable energies, only a small fraction of the potential is realized.

14.3.3

Nigeria

Like Ghana, Nigeria has large natural palm forests. Next to producing palm oil, these two countries have started to export palm kernel shells to European utility buyers, who blend the shells with coal in their boilers to reduce carbon dioxide, sulfur, and nitrogen emissions. Shipping routes from West Africa to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Antwerp (ARA) are shorter than the Asian (ASA) routes, so the logistical costs are lower with African biomass.