ENERGY-AFRICA: Big Potential and Challenges for Biofuels

DURBAN, Sep 27 (IPS) – Biofuels offer Africa the chance to supply itself with alternative energy sources, and also to become a major supplier of these sources for developed markets. Yet, challenges — from creating the relevant infrastructure to competition for biofuel crops from food markets — remain.

“There is huge room for exploitation of clean sources of energy at a time when the entire world is confronted with global warming,” said Salvador Namburete, Mozambique
He was speaking at the First Annual Africa Biofuels Conference & Expo, held in the South African coastal city of Durban; the event concludes Thursday.

The European Union (EU) has mandated 10 percent biofuel use by motorists and industry within this region by 2020, and its commissioner for agriculture has told the press several times that 20 percent of that use would probably come from imports.

Europe has preferential trade agreements with Least Developed Countries (LDCs) under the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, enabling biofuels from these nations to enter the European market duty- and quota-free.

The LDC category was created by the United Nations in 1971 in recognition of how the world’s poorest states need special assistance; it presently comprises 50 countries — including Mozambique — most in Africa. Certain LDCs have land suitable for growing biofuel crops, and offer prospects to investors who could import the technology for transforming crops into fuel.

In addition, opportunities exist for African-produced biofuels to enter the U.S. market under the African Growth and Opportunities Act, Washington