A Roadmap for Biofuels in Kenya Opportunities & Obstacles

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development

Download

Abstract: Biofuels are liquid, solid or gaseous energy sources derived from renewable biomass. i They generally emit fewer toxic air pollutants and greenhouse gasses than petroleumbased fuels and can be produced anywhere sufficient biomass ?feedstock? can be grown. At a time of record oil prices and growing concern over global warming, biofuels present a valuable opportunity to reduce dependence on volatile global oil markets, create local economic opportunities in agriculture and industry, and improve the environment. Global oil consumption is projected to increase by about 36% by 2030. ii In Africa, oil consumption could nearly double in that time. iii As more countries scramble for an increasingly limited supply of oil, the price and availability of fuel will become ever more challenging issues. Many countries see biofuels as part of the solution to these problems, which has led to explosive growth in global production. From 2000 to 2006, global fuel ethanol production nearly tripled to 40 billion liters, while biodiesel production grew from one to six billion liters. iv