1. Biofuels at the level of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Presented to First High Level Biofuels Seminar in Africa Addis Ababa, 30 July – 01 August, 2007 By Mohamedain E. Seif Elnasr, Ph.D. Energy Economist COMESA Secretariat

2. Outline of the Presentation ●Introduction ●The Current Status of Biofuels in the COMESA Region ●Biofuels and other Renewable Energy Resources in the COMESA Energy Programme ●Conclusions and Recommendations

3. Introduction Brief on the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Established in 1994 19 countries The aims and objectives to facilitate the removal of the structural and institutional weaknesses of member States so that they are able to attain collective and sustainable development through regional integration. On energy, the Treaty provides that “the member States undertake to co-operate in the joint development and utilization of energy resources including hydro, fossil and biomass

4. Introduction (continued) ●Brief on COMESA Trade and investment are important instruments for promoting and deepening economic integration in COMESA The development of appropriate physical infrastructure and facilitation in energy, transport and communications are key Free Trade Area (FTA) was launched in 2000 (13 countries) Customs Union (CU) will be Launched in December, 2008

5. Introduction (continued) ● Objective to highlight the role of biofuels at the level of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to address energy challenges

6. Introduction (continued) ●Energy Challenges energy poverty high oil prices the issue of clean energy security which includes energy efficiency and clean energy supply options like renewable energy

7. The Current Status of Biofuels in the COMESA Region ● Biofuels and other Renewable Energy Resources in the COMESA Region the COMESA region has abundant of the renewable energy resources such as biofuels, solar, wind, biomass in terms of wood-fuels (fuel-wood and charcoal), etc which they would play an important role to address energy challenges that many COMESA countries are facing Biofuels the COMESA region has a potential for producing biofuels such as biodiesel from jatropha carcus, vegetable oils, palm oil, soybean, coconut, etc; bioethanol from sugarcane, cassava, sweet sorghum, etc; biomass cogeneration; biomass gasification; biogas; etc

8. The Current Status of Biofuels in the COMESA Region (continued) Biofuels Some COMESA countries such as Malawi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Swaziland, Uganda and Zimbabwe have developed large scale bioethanol fuel programme Sudan and Zambia are on the way Zambia and Swaziland are also exerting more efforts on biodiesel from jatropha. Mauritius, Kenya, Swaziland, Sudan, Malawi and Uganda produce electricity from bagasse-based cogeneration. Whereas, biogas digesters have been installed in many COMESA countries.

9. The Current Status of Biofuels in the COMESA Region (continued) ● Key Issues of Biofuels in the COMESA Region include the following: low public awareness little production of equipments and components and underdeveloped markets in biofuels equipments and services lack of mechanisms to monitor standards and ensure quality control of biofuels tecnology

10. The Current Status of Biofuels in the COMESA Region (continued) ● Key Issues of Biofuels and other Renewable Energy in the COMESA Region include the following: inadequate financing mechanisms and other incentives to facilitate investment, communication, promotion and dissemination of biofuel tecnologies inadequate data available on the potential of indigenous biofuels

11. Biofuels and other Renewable Energy Resources in the COMESA Energy Programme The COMESA Energy Programm The main thrust is to promote regional cooperation in energy development, trade and capacity building The programme is intended to harmonize energy policy and regulatory issues, develop the COMESA region energy infrastructure through development of medium to long-term energy master plan, and facilitate trade in energy services

12. Biofuels and other Renewable Energy Resources in the COMESA Energy Programme (continued) The COMESA Energy Programe one of the actions that have been identified to facilitate energy policy and regulatory harmonization process in the COMESA region is development of model energy policy framework

13. Biofuels and other Renewable Energy Resources in the COMESA Energy Programme Objectives of the Model Energy Policy Framework COMESA is on the process to adopt its model energy policy framework whose main thrust is to provide the COMESA member States with harmonized guidelines that would facilitate energy policy harmonization in the COMESA region in efforts to improve efficiency and increased investment The specific objectives of the model energy policy framework include the following: it is a policy framework which outlines contents expected in National Energy Policy, countries can then adopt and/or customize; therefore, it aims at harmonize policies in the spirit of regional integration develop an implementation plan to drive the harmonization process in the sense that to identify principal actors and responsibilities in the implementation matrix.

14. The COMESA’S Model Energy Policy Framework as it Pertains to Renewable Energy (continued) Objectives of the COMESA Model Energy Policy as they Pertain to Biofuels and other Renewable Energy The policy objectives of biofuels and other renewable energy include the following: to increase the contribution of boifuels and other renewable sources of energy in the energy matrix to utilize biofuels and other renewable sources of energy for income and employment generation to develop the use of biofuels and other renewable sources of energy for both small and large-scale applications

15. The COMESA’S Model Energy Policy Framework as it Pertains to Renewable Energy (continued) Guidelines on Renewable Energy Sub-Sector the main thrust is to contribute to a more reliable, cost effect and sustainable clean energy supply in the COMESA region, through harnessing the abundant renewable resources thereby addressing the region’s energy related supply side constraints and contributing to increased productive competitiveness and economic growth for poverty reduction, in particular poor rural people

16. The COMESA’S Model Energy Policy Framework as it Pertains to Renewable Energy (continued) Guidelines on Renewable Energy Sub-Sector the specific objective is to make the environment conducive to renewable energy sub-sector investment, in particular, encouragement of private sector investment and participation

17. The COMESA’S Model Energy Policy Framework as it Pertains to Renewable Energy (continued) Guidelines on Renewable Energy Sub-Sector the main activities will include development of policy guidelines for the development of renewable energy market; and development of model regulatory guidelines for standards and specification for renewable energy technology

18. Conclusions and Recommendation Conclusions Biofuels and other renewable energy would play a vital role in the energy mix they would be one of the solutions of the energy and poverty problems that many developing countries are facing

19. Conclusions and Recommendation (continued) Recommendations biofuels industry in the COMESA region be supported by policy; legislation; improved technology; training and capacity building; and Research & Development governments be committed to creating an environment for a renewable energy industry including biofuels in terms of subsidy assistance, regulatory environment, tax holidays, concessions, etc; supporting the implementation of specific technologies; ensuring uptake through adoption of a target for biofuels; and supporting Research & Development.

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