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BIOFUELS FOR POVERTY REDUCTION. Presented at the FIRST HIGH-LEVEL BIOFUELS SEMINAR IN AFRICA 30 July – 1 August 2007 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia By Prof. Thomson Sinkala CHAIRMAN, Biofuels Association of Zambia. THE BIOFUELS HYPE.
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BIOFUELS FOR POVERTY REDUCTION Presented at the FIRST HIGH-LEVEL BIOFUELS SEMINAR IN AFRICA 30 July – 1 August 2007 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia By Prof. Thomson Sinkala CHAIRMAN, Biofuels Association of Zambia
THE BIOFUELS HYPE The subject of biofuels has to-day generated an intense debate world-wide, FOR and AGAINST. The majority of the populace, though, is unaware that we are in a “Noah and the ark” era. This can be seen by a “laissez -fare” attitude / approach to the biofuels uptake / development.
Biofuels Have Existed Since the 1800s 1826, Samuel Morey developed an engine that ran oil ethanol and turpentine. 1860, German engine inventor Nicholas Otto used ethanol as the fuel in one of his engines. Otto is best known for his development of a modern internal combustion engine (the Otto Cycle) in 1876. In 1898, Rudolf Diesel premiered the diesel engine at the World’s Exhibition in Paris to run on peanut oil.
So, Why Biofuels Now? PEAK OIL This is the problem of energy resource depletion when the global oil production will come to a peak. In the past, this peak has been predicted by many models to occur about 2010. Some models say we have already peaked!
Why Peak Oil? 1. Demand has gone up. Today we consume three times more than we discover !!!! 2. Very few (none last year) new oil discoveries. 3. Existing ones are becoming increasingly more expensive to extract due to e.g. worsening geological conditions. 4. Geopolitical problems in some of the countries extracting oil. Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
The International Energy Agency (IEA) chief economist Fatih Birol said in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde just two weeks ago: "If Iraqi production does not rise exponentially by 2015, we have a very big problem, even if Saudi Arabia fulfills all its promises. The numbers are very simple, there's no need to be an expert."
BIOFUELS ARE ONLY PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THE ENERGY CRISIS • Clearly, biofuels are an old story. • They have only resurfaced due to: • Security of supply of fuels caused by a looming PEAK and • Increasingly expensive fossil fuels, thereby making biofuels competitive. Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
BIOFUELS ARE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPING ECONOMIES This has however also created envy / enemies. • AVENUES OF FEARS, CONCERNS AND MISINFORMATION INCLUDE: • Food security; • Environment / invasiveness; and • Land requirements. Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
ARE BIOFUELS WORSE THAN OTHER INDUSTRIES? Environmental damage due to mining Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
Should we put a stop to mining because of this damage and hazard? No because we need cars, clothes, houses, food, etc! The issue then is to mine / develop biofuels responsibly!
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO BE VERY CLEAR HERE: The threat of energy insecurity is real. Malicious detractors, those who are not adding value to our biofuels programmes, must not be entertained! When we shall be reduced to walking, when our industries shall come to a halt, not even their guilt will reverse the calamity. Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
What are the Imperatives? • (i) Reduction Of The Negative Impact Of Fuel Price And Supply On The Economy • ii) Enhancing National Security • iii) Opportunity for choice of environmentally friendly fuels • (and for most of us in Africa) • (iv) Opportunity for empowering the marginalised • noting that most of the problems in rural areas are energy-related.
PARAMETERS FOR BIOFUELS TARGETS • Scope of wealth ownership at all levels; • Production technology; • 3. Job creation; • 4. Resilience against external disturbances; • Diversity of products; • 6. Size of investment; • 7. Market scope; • 8. Land requirements; • 9. Water requirements; • 10. Food security; • 11. Geographical coverage of wealth ownership in the country; and • 12. Environmental protection
To realise the opportunities associated with biofuels, the choice of source of feedstock is cardinal Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
For Example • FEEDSTOCKS FAVOURABLE TO ZAMBIA’S SITUATION • OIL / BIODIESEL • Jatropha curcas (first choice and country-wide participation) • Palm (mainly viable on large scale) • BIOETHANOL • Sweet sorghum (country-wide participation) • Sugarcane (already existing) Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
LET US APPROACH THIS CONTRIBUTIONthrough demonstration of the change in socio-economic status of the impoverished brought about by bifouels industryrather thanquantifying how much money they will make HOW CAN BIOFUELS ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF THE POOR? Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
EXAMPLES USING JATROPHA BIOFUELS IS A PARTICIPATORY INDUSTRY IF APPROPRIATE FEEDSTOCKS ARE EMPLOYED Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
Simple filtration system (COURTESY of Energiebaue of Germany) POWERING RURAL AREAS TO EMPOWER THE DISADVANTAGED COURTESY of Energiebaue of Germany
PROBLEM: Poor Educational Services • High illiteracy levels • Inadequate teachers • Inadequate schools/colleges • Inadequate educational books / materials • Poor laboratories • Poor classroom visuals • Absence of educational facilities • BIOFUELS IMPLICATIONS • Access to eLearning • Access to eLibraries • Access to eLaboratories • More affordable education • Access to teacher community
FIRST eLEARNING ZAMBIA NATIONAL CONFERENCE THEME: eLearning in National Development ________________________________________________________________________ 15-17 March 2007 Mulungushi International Conference Centre Lusaka, Zambia ________________________________________________________________________ (Draft) CONFERENCE REPORT Compiled by Prof. Thomson Sinkala Mr. Victor Muyatwa Mr. Moses Mwale Mr. Charles Ndakala Mr. Katwamba Mwansa Dr. Enala Tembo Mwase Mr. Kalisha Malama Ms. Esvah Chizambe Ms. Grace Zozi Ms. Yvette Mpakateni Mr. Selisho Chanda Mr. Christopher Chamoto For the Ministry of Education April 2007
EXAMPLE OF eLEARNING COURSE COST COMPARISON (Course in Lusaka, Participant based in Kitwe in Copperbelt) Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
PROBLEM: Poor Transport • High fuel expenses • Poor roads • High spares bills • Inefficient transport systems BIOFUELS IMPLICATIONS • Improved income • Better roads • Affordable spares bill • Affordable/own fuel • Improved efficiency
PROBLEM: Poor Food Security • Expensive fertilizer • Poor fertilizer availability • Degraded soils • Expensive inputs • Inadequate manpower (HIV/AIDS) • High fuel expenses for tractors • Poor crop yields • Low prices for produce • BIOFUELS IMPLICATIONS • Own/readily available organicfertiliser • Improved soils • High crop yields • Own/readily available fuels • Improved affordability for agric inputs • Tractors, herbicides • Better prices for produce • Healthier manpower • Improved household economy
10 gms Jatropha cake 5 gms D-compound 5 gms Jatropha cake ORGANIC FERTILISERS Progressively replace inorganic fertilisers with Jatropha-based organic fertiliser Jatropha organic fertilizer tests at Thomro Biofuels Farm, Zambia [PHOTO: T. Sinkala, 12/2/2007]
A maize field in Zimbabwe showing the impact of JCL press cake applied to the portion on the left hand size vs. cow dung on the right side. (Photo BUN 1999)
PROBLEM: Poor Health • Inadequate health personnel • Inadequate medicines • Poor communication for referral cases • Inadequate reference health literature • BIOFUELS IMPLICATIONS • Improved retention of rural-based health personnel • Better health services due to powered medical operations e.g. fridges • Improved availability of medicines • Improved affordability for medical services • Tele medical diagnosis/advice • Access to medical eLibraries
PROBLEM: Accelerated Environmental Degradation • Inefficient resource utilization • Inefficient/uncontrolled resource harvesting • Forestry depletion • Poor water quality • Poor sanitation • BIOFUELS IMPLICATIONS • Electric/biogas stoves • Forest conservation • Improved resource harvesting/utilization • Water pumps, hence ground water • Improved water & sanitation
PROBLEM: Loss of Family Cohesion • Increasingly fragmented family chores • Increasingly diminishing hereditary skill • BIOFUELS IMPLICATIONS • Increased family bond • Increased family-based skills
My Kids and I have mutual reasons to work together • For them • It is exciting, • They pick-up the skill, • They grow with the development
My Kids have reasons to invite friends • As a result, they are • Recruiting new Jatro disciples, • They are reducing the time of kid-exposure to mischief, • They are growing up techno minded.
My 17 – year kid decided to: Process Jatro oil into biodiesel and soap and to make a website
Clearly, biofuels industry offers great opportunities for us, such as: • Strengthening family bonds; • Passing-on skills to young generations; • Minimising exposure of children to mischief; • Minimising NEGATIVE extended family instrusions; and • 5. Capacity to look after orphans resulting from by e.g. HIV/AIDS pandemic.
PROPER PLANTATION MANAGEMENT CAN REDUCE LAND REQUIREMENTS Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
Age of Plant Increases Production FROM: JATROPHA CURCAS, Production and Utilisation Manual, Kenya Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
CONCLUSIONS / RECOMMENDATIONS • The threat of energy insecurity is real and malicious detractorsmust not be entertained. • Government POLICIES and LEGAL FRAMEWORKS on biofuels should be put in place urgently to build confidence and energize players. • The biofuels industry has room for all at all levels in society, and therefore has potential to address economic problems country-wide. • Land requirements for biofuels industry, especially that using Jatropha, are way less than feared. Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
CONCLUSIONS / RECOMMENDATIONS (continued) 6. Biofuels is a new industry addressing the energy insecurity as well as significant poverty alleviation and needs to be assisted through incentives and R & D. 7. Research must run IN PARALLELwith production. 8. It is cardinal that Governments facilitate availability of funds to enable participation by citizens in the biofuels industry, otherwise citizens will soon be reduced to workers forever. Prof. Thomson Sinkala, CHAIRMAN of Biofuels Association of Zambia
BIOFUELS WILL HELP US MINIMISE POVERTY RELATED CHAOS AND STABILISE THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPES Pandemonium at University of Zambia!! FROM: Post Newspaper, Zambia