By Staff Writer | for Moakanyi Magazine

At present, the public strategies, policies, acts and regulations at play in the Energy sector of Botswana include the Electricity Act (2007), National Energy Policy (Draft, 2015), Botswana Energy Master Plan (2003), and the Biomass Energy Strategy (2009).

Most of the initiatives currently shaping the renewable energy industry in Botswana came from the market intelligence gathered and published in the Biomass Energy Strategy of 2009, create a base for the future of energy in Botswana.

The Biomass Energy Strategy of 2009, supported by GIZ, gives outlines biomass energy demand, woody and non-woody biomass supply, potential interventions, and comprehensive strategy for the utilization of biomass energy resources.

Here are some of the extracts from the Biomass Energy Strategy document;

The initiative to develop a BEST for Botswana was launched by GTZ and the Partnership Dialogue Facility of the EU Energy Initiative (EUEI PDF) as part of a wider effort underway in several African countries. Support was provided for the process in the form of technical assistance, provision of methods and tools, organisation and moderation of regional workshops, facilitation of national dialogue with relevant stakeholders and support for local facilitators and consultants.

Biomass energy is defined for the purposes of this Strategy as Woody biomass, Wet biomass, Energy crops and Residues.

Woody biomass taken to mean fuelwood, given that charcoal is an insignificant energy source in Botswana.

Wet biomass includes Municipal sludge and animal waste.

Energy crops being Tree and agricultural crops producing biofuels (biodiesel, ethanol and derivatives such as ethanol gel fuel).

Residues are from Agricultural, forestry and urban wastes, including primary residues (e.g. fallen trees, caged poultry waste), secondary residues (e.g. sawmill waste) and tertiary residues (e.g. municipal solid waste).

Woody biomass energy contributes significantly to Botswana’s energy balance and is estimated to account for 30% of the country’s primary energy supply and 38% of total final energy consumption. Over 90% of this energy is consumed by households, of which 75% is accounted for by rural households. In turn, 90% of household biomass energy consumption is in the form of fuelwood. Fuelwood is the most significant woody biomass energy used in Botswana, for household consumption, and especially for households in rural areas.

Botswana’s level of dependency on biomass energy is significantly lower than most other African countries, where biomass often accounts for 80-90% of primary energy consumption. Nevertheless, for a relatively wealthy and fast-growing regional economy, the proportion is still considered high and results from limited availability and affordability of alternatives (e.g. coal and liquefied petroleum gas, LPG). There is also a virtual absence of “modern” derivatives of biomass (e.g. from bio methanation or gasification).

While this study will show that current levels of woody biomass consumption are within sustainable limits at national level, there are serious and growing shortages in the more densely populated parts of the country, where fuelwood harvesting (especially for commercial purposes) is in excess of sustainable yields. This is resulting in depletion of standing stocks and an increasing financial and labour burden for fuelwood users. The widespread use of fuelwood by poor households, both rural and urban, together with a poorly regulated harvesting regime, is expected to result in growing depletion of woodlands and to adversely affect agricultural productivity [Prasad, 2006].

Localised and selective decline of fuelwood species is already occurring in some parts of the country, especially in the east where 80% of population is concentrated. Preferred species of fuelwood have been depleted close to settlements and harvesters now travel up to 100 km to source marketable fuelwood [EAD, 2006]. Households experiencing fuelwood poverty are forced to turn to lower-quality fuel options such as dung, shrubs and hedges.

The alternative is to switch to costlier fossil fuels such as paraffin or LPG, for which price and accessibility are barriers.

As well as exposing the population to inadequate and unaffordable energy services, the use of fuelwood by poor households in inefficient end-use devices (mainly open fire) exposes family members to health and safety hazards from indoor air pollution and the burden of collecting fuelwood from far afield. The widespread use of biomass energy in the domestic sector nevertheless suggests that biomass, even in its traditional form, plays an important role in Botswana’s socio-economy [EAD, 2006].

The dilemma is that in Botswana, as in many other African countries, biomass energy seldom receives significant attention in policy and planning debates, unlike energy sources seen as the drivers of economic growth such as electricity and petroleum.

The institutional framework responsible for biomass energy management is fragmented and this fails to engender cohesive programme development. Many communities are not exercising good stewardship towards natural woodlands. The legislation and policies that should support community participation in sustainable woodland management – such as forestry policy and fuelwood policy – are also inadequate1 [EAD, 2006].

In spite of the availability of more modern sources of energy within Botswana, biomass will remain an important fuel for most households (and some institutions and industries) for the foreseeable future.

Planning for adequate and affordable energy services that will cater for the country’s socio-economy therefore demands a timely intervention that will ensure supply and use of biomass energy on a sustainable basis. This is the main rationale for developing a Biomass Energy Strategy (BEST) for Botswana. Opportunities also exist to modernise biomass to provide cleaner energy alternatives.

Source: GIZ