B. Amigun1,*, W. Parawira2, J. K. Musango3, A. O. Aboyade4 and A. S. Badmos1

1Renewable Energy Group, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA)- an Agency Under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abuja,

2Department of Applied Biology, Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Kigali, 3Gauteng City-Region Observatory, a Partnership Between University of Johannesburg, University of Witwatersrand and Gauteng Provincial Government, Wits, 4Process Engineering Department, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch,

1Nigeria 2Rwanda 3,4South Africa

1. Introduction

1.1 Energy overview in Africa

Energy plays a central role in national development process as a domestic necessity and major factor of production, whose cost directly affects price of other goods and services (Amigun and von Blottnitz, 2008). It affects all aspects of development, such as social, economic, political and environmental, including access to health, water, agricultural productivity, industrial productivity, education and other vital services that improve the quality of life. Currently, many African countries experience frequent blackouts and the cost of electricity blackouts is not known. The continent’s energy consumption and demand is expected to continue to grow as development progresses at rates faster than those of developed countries. The desire for improved quality of life and rises in population together with energy demands from the transport, industrial and domestic sectors will continue to drive this growth. Ensuring the provision of adequate, affordable, efficient and reliable high-quality energy services with minimum adverse effect on the environment in sustainable way is not only pivotal for development, but crucial for African countries most of which are struggling to meet present energy demands (Amigun et al., 2008). African countries need sustainable energy supplies to be in a position to improve their overall net productivity and become major players in global technological and economic progress. Unreliable energy supply may account for the low levels of private investment the African continent attracts and the poor economic productivity of its limited industries. Improvement

Corresponding Author

in the quality and magnitude of energy services in developing countries is required for them to meet developmental objectives including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Africa is not only the poorest continent in the world but it was the only major developing region with negative growth in income per capita during 1980-2000 (World Bank, 2003).

Although reliable regional energy statistics are not readily available, existing estimates of energy use in Eastern and Southern Africa indicate a significant and persistent dependence on traditional biomass energy technologies and limited use of modern, sustainable energy technologies (Karekezi, 1994a). Biomass in the form of mainly wood-fuel and charcoal is the dominant energy source used in sub-Saharan Africa

Because of the shortage in commercial modern energy and current economic situation in most African countries, the fuel substitution away from biomass is less likely because of declining disposable incomes for both urban and rural population. There is fuel-switch back to traditional fuels as modern fuels become scarce in some areas but the wood fuels are also becoming scarce in some countries. Biomass is cheap but when used in an unplanned (unsustainable) manner leads to consumption beyond regenerative limits with serious environmental consequences. On average, about 40% of total commercial energy is consumed in six countries in the Northern sub-region and a similar share in Southern Africa with over 80% by South Africa. The other 45 or more countries share the remaining 20%. Similarly, the major oil and gas producers are limited to about ten countries in the North and West regions while about 95% coal (anthracite in nature) is produced in South Africa. This uneven distribution of the fossil energy resources (crude oil and natural gas) on the African continent is reflected in the energy production and consumption patterns (Table 1). As a result, 70% of countries on the continent depend on imported energy resources, which support the need to harness the available abundant renewable energy resources (Amigun, 2008).

Africa is a net energy exporter, but the majority of its population lacks access to modern fuels, and many countries rely on imported energy. More than 500 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa do not have electricity in their homes and rely on solid forms of biomass (firewood, agricultural residues, animal wastes, etc) to meet basic energy needs for cooking, heating and lighting. The disadvantages of these traditional fuels are many: they are inefficient energy carriers and their heat is difficult to control, they produce dangerous emissions and their current rate of extraction is not sustainable. The unsustainable use of fuel wood biomass can accelerate deforestation and lead to soil erosion, desertification and increased risk of flooding and biodiversity loss. The low levels of modern (commercial) energy consumption prevalent in Africa besides the heavy usage of traditional (non­commercial) biofuels- primarily biomass is also due to largely underdeveloped energy resources, poorly developed commercial energy infrastructure, widespread and severe poverty which makes it impossible for people to pay for conventional energy resources and the landlocked status of some African countries that make the cost of importing commercial energy more expensive (World Bank, 2003; Amigun et al., 2008). The existing aging and neglected facilities for thermal and hydro energy production need rehabilitation and expansion for the efficient delivery of useful energy services. Upgrading the abundant biomass in Africa to higher-quality energy carriers could help change the energy situation in the continent. The problems arising from non-sustainable use of fossil fuels and traditional biomass fuels have led to increased awareness and widespread research on the accessibility of new and renewable energy resources, such as biogas. The development of renewable energy technologies and in particular biogas technology can help reduce the dependence on non-renewable resources and minimise the social impacts and environmental degradation problems associated with fossil fuel (Amigun and von Blottnitz, 2008).