The Bioethanol Industry in Sub-Saharan Africa: History, Challenges, and Prospects

Abstract

Recently, interest in using bioethanol as an alternative to petroleum fuel has been escalating due to decrease in the availability of crude oil. The application of bioethanol in the motor-fuel industry can contribute to reduction in the use of fossil fuels and in turn to decreased carbon emissions and stress of the rapid decline in crude oil availability. Bioethanol production methods are numerous and vary with the types of feedstock used. Feedstocks can be cereal grains (first generation feedstock), lignocellulose (second generation feedstock), or algae (third generation feedstock) feedstocks. To date, USA and Brazil are the leading contributors to global bioethanol production. In sub-Saharan Africa, bioethanol production is stagnant. During the 1980s, bioethanol production has been successful in several countries including Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Kenya. However, because of numerous challenges such as food security, land availability, and government policies, achieving sustainability was a major hurdle. This paper examines the history and challenges of bioethanol production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and demonstrates the bioethanol production potential in SSA with a focus on using bitter sorghum and cashew apple juice as unconventional feedstocks for bioethanol production.

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“…Bioethanol (ethyl alcohol) is produced by the biological fermentation of organic feedstocks that contain high levels of sugars, or that can be converted into sugars . Bioethanol production methods are numerous, and use a diverse range of feedstocks, providing some operational flexibility .…”

“…Bioenergy and food security have been presented as mutually incompatible, and in direct competition for land and other inputs rather than a rural development opportunity . There is the logical fear that growth in first‐generation biofuels will increase the price of food in sub‐Saharan Africa, and it will be prudent that biofuel feedstocks do not contribute to land or food insecurity . In general, however, sub‐Saharan African food insecurity persists due to poverty, inadequate agricultural infrastructure and services, degraded lands, armed conflict, and poor records of attracting international investment .…”

“…It is possible that suitable biofuel programs can boost agricultural productivity through new investment. This may also reduce fuel imports, and as a result improve food and energy security, and financial stability from improved balance of payments in relation to mineral oil imports . However, there is commonly a loss of comprehension regarding the average local capacity within the rural landscape in sub‐Saharan Africa.…”