Transcript Perspective of Bioenergy and Jatropha in Uganda

Perspective of Bioenergy and
Jatropha in Uganda
William Kyamuhangire, PhD.
Associate Professor
Faculty of Agriculture
Makerere University
Uganda
Map of Uganda
Uganda facts
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Land locked
Population 29 million, 80% rural
Population growth rate: 3%
GDP growth 6%
Agrarian economy
 Peasant farming
 Raw material exports
Energy picture in Uganda
 91% biomass based energy
 Deforestation
 Hydro power generation
 High potential >2GW
 Installed capacity 280 MW
 Current <150MW
 Thermal 150MW
 Hydro and thermal electricity covers 9%
 Transport Sector 100% petroleum fuel
 High import bill
 Energy insecurity
The National Energy Policy
 Accelerated power generation from
renewable resources
 Development/adoption and utilization of
other modern fuels and technologies
(bioenergy)
 Aims:
 Socio-economic development especially
transforming rural areas
 Address poverty issues, catalyse industrialization
and protect the environment.
Policy and Actions on Biofuels
 Biofuels: oils and fats, biodiesel and
ethanol
 Blend all fossil diesel with up to 20%
biodiesel
 Govt promoting production of oil
crops
 For edible oil
 For biodiesel
 Biodiesel targeted for transport and
for rural electrification
Jatropha Production in Uganda
 Grown to support
the vanilla crop on
small holder farms
 Variety not known,
seed yield and
potetial
 Seeds considered
useless
 Farmers started
selling the seeds
Developments in Jatropha
Production and Use
 Makerere University
 Extraction of jatropha oil
 Conversion into biodiesel
 Bas Lankveld flower farm
 Buys seeds
 Uses Jatropha oil as fuel for farm
machinery
 MEMD/GTZ
 Piloting jatropha oil fueled electric
generator
Developments in Jatropha
Production and Use cont.
 Feasibility studies
 MEMD
 Private initiatives
Barriers to bioenergy
development and use
 Prospects for petroleum deposits
exploitation
 Inadequate Legal and Institutional
Framework
 Limited Technical and Institutional
Capacity
 Lack of Financing Mechanisms
 Underdeveloped market
 Lack of Research and Development
Support
Expected benefits of deploying
biodiesel
 Improved national energy security by using
indigenous renewable energy
sources instead of imported fossil fuel
 Create employment and income in rural
areas
 Promotion of a new source of income to
farmers
 Support rural electrification strategy
 Promotion of technology transfer and skills
development
Conclusions
 Biofuels are not an absolute substitute to fossil fuels but
if produced under adequate policy regimes they offer
one of the stepping stones towards a development
among poor countries.
 Since the collapse of the commodity markets in the
70s, biofuels offer the first expanded market
opportunity and rise in commodity prices for poor
producer countries.
 Least developed countries should take advantage of this
window of opportunity to develop their agriculture and
industry.
 There is need to support the biofuels initiatives in the
developing countries in order to realize economic gains.