Programme and projects of PRSA

Biodiesel and bioethanol production potential of selected crops in Rwanda

Rising costs of fossil fuels, land degradation, climate change and rural poverty are serious threats to the economic development in many developing countries including Rwanda. Current statistics indicate that oil reserves will be exhausted in less than 60 years.

There is increasing evidence showing a rise in fossil fuel from 625 to 696 Rwandan Francs representing an increase of 11.4 % within very few months of 2007.

To reverse the current situation of rising costs of fossil fuels and environmental degradation in Rwanda there is a need for using low cost and locally available alternative sources of energy. This can be achieved through biodiesel and bioethanol production in Rwanda.

One of the main issues is that of the proposed blending rate which is currently set at E8 and B5 for 2013. To meet 75 percent of the total renewable energy target for 2013 through a 4.5 percent market penetration in biofuels is potentially viable but the weighting of biodiesel to a B2 blend compared to bioethanol E8 will not grow the biodiesel industry. If one looks at the growth in the diesel consumption annually in Rwanda, by 2013 the country will consume approximately 12 million tons of diesel per annum based on a 10-year average. Assuming a two percent blend, approximately 220,000 tons of biodiesel will be required. This is a relatively low target compared to that set by other countries worldwide, e.g. five percent in the UK, and is unlikely to encourage the development of a major biodiesel in Rwanda. Further, the likelihood of the industry being able to procure sufficient local feedstock to satisfy the market is minimal. And the proposal to link the Pricing of biofuels to basic Fuel Price needs to be analyzed.

Finally, there is the issue of food versus non-food crops. The government’s stance on this needs confirmation. The statement made is that ‘Biofuels supply requires low cost, high yield and surprise agricultural production most of which will not be food crops’. This however is not supported by proposal to utilize palm, sunflower, soya, etc. as the main feedstock for biodiesel production. We have adopted the use of Jatropha curcas as its primary feedstock of choice. Jatropha meet the requirements of being a low-cost, high-yield, non-edible crop which is able to be planted on marginal lands. The establishment of biofuels industry in Rwanda therefore is not only in the best-interests of the local market but will benefit Africa as a whole. We are positive about the potential of the market and will continue to invest our time, funds and energy towards the creating a viable biofuels market which benefit both the first and second economies.

To know more about this project, downlaod the full document describing the project ( pdf).

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Références

1. BIODIESEL AND BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION IN RWANDA