Biofuels in Africa : Opportunities,Prospects, and Challenges

Mitchell, Donald

World Bank

关键词: ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES;    ACID RAIN;    AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES;    AGRICULTURAL LAND;    AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION;   

DOI  :  10.1596/978-0-8213-8516-6
RP-ID  :  58438

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Biofuels offer new opportunities forAfrican countries. They can contribute to economic growth,employment, and rural incomes. They can become an importantexport for some countries and provide low-cost fuel forothers. There is also a potentially large demand forbiofuels to meet the rapidly growing need for local fuel.Abundant natural resources and low-cost labor make producingbiofuel feedstock's a viable alternative to traditionalcrops; and the preferential access available to most Africancountries to protected markets in industrial countriesprovides unique export opportunities. Biofuels also bringchallenges and risks, including potential land-useconflicts, environmental risks, and heightened concernsabout food security. This book examines the potential ofAfrican countries to produce biofuels for export or domesticconsumption and looks at the policy framework needed. It ispart of the effort by the World Bank's Africa region toexamine critical issues that affect the region and torecommend policies that effectively address these issueswhile providing an enabling environment for the privatesector. The book is intended to inform policy makers and thelarger development community of the global and domesticmarket opportunities facing biofuel producers, as well asthe challenges of producing biofuels, in the Africa region.