Africa biofuels growth on the up

As the first African Sustainable Transport Forum took place in Nairobi, Kenya, on 28 October, Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA), which promote biofuel friendly policies internationally, called on forum attendees to adopt biofuels friendly policies and regulations that would encourage the increased use of sustainable biofuels in Africa’s transport sector.

Earlier in the year, the GRFA forecasted that 2014 global ethanol production would reach 90.38 billion litres and its use worldwide would reduce international GHG emissions by over 106 million tonnes.

(S&T)2 Consultants, an energy and environmental consulting firm, in partnership with the GRFA released data detailing that these GHG reductions are equal to taking more than 21 million cars off the road each year.

‘106 million tonnes or 21 million cars in GHG reductions is massive, it’s the same as removing all the cars registering Malaysia off the road, but much more can be achieved if African leaders choose a path towards a more sustainable future for African transport,’ says Bliss Baker, spokesperson, GRFA.

Africa’s ethanol production has continued to grow, with forecasts predicting levels will reach 260 million litres in 2014. The domestic use of ethanol fuel could reduce Africa’s GHG emissions by 325,000 tonnes, equal to removing over 100,000 cars off the road.

‘Africa has enormous potential for increased biofuels use and with the right policies could become a world leader in sustainable biofuels production that would bring significant environmental benefits and economic investment to the continent,’ says Baker.