CEESD l Workshop on proposed bioenergy policy for Ghana

Workshop on proposed bioenergy policy for Ghana
December 6, 2010

CEESD has participated in a day's workshop on the proposed bioenergy policy for Ghana. The draft policy document was coordinated by the Energy Commission, a public institution mandated to plan, regulate, manage, and develop energy supply and utilization in Ghana. The workshop, which was held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, brought together energy experts, planners, and policy developers from academia, private sector, and state institutions to deliberate on the draft policy.
The draft bioenergy policy seeks to achieve 10 % and 20 % biofuel substitution in the overall petroleum fuels by 2020 and 2030, respectively. In order to achieve the aforementioned targets, the Energy Commission will provide technical and financial support towards the sustainable development of woodfuels and biofuels through home-grown technology.

CEESD participants used the occasion to push for concrete targets to be set up in the document. Major suggestions put forward by CEESD included: adoption of specific feedstocks for biofuel production, investment in R&D in lignocellulosic biofuels, and development of efficient stoves for woodfuel. CEESD also decried the low level of recognition for biogas technology and called for concrete targets to be set up for biogas systems.

Finally, CEESD suggested that 10 % of the oil revenue should be set aside for renewable energy development, out of which 5 % should be reserved for bioenergy interventions. This is necessary since Ghana needs to develop its renewable energy potential to a level that would reduce the impact of energy deficiency when our crude oil reserves run out.