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Meles stresses need for transforming agriculture-bio energy interaction in Africa

17 June 2009, Walta Information Centre
URL: http://www.waltainfo.com/walnew/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11683&Itemid=47

Addis Ababa:  Prime Minister Meles Zenawi underlined the need for transforming the interaction between agriculture and bio-energy in Africa as the primary means of adjusting the continent's economy to climate change.  Opening the second annual Africa Bio-energies conference and expo at the UN-ECA here today, Meles said the traditional and highly inefficient use of bio-energy has affected agricultural growth negatively.

The negative interaction between agriculture and bio-energy has limited the positive contribution that Africa could have made to mitigate global warming, the Premier said.  As the productivity of agriculture has stagnated and the pressure of a growing population intensified, the forests, the sources of much of the bio-energy have been subjected to massive deforestation and degradation, Meles said. 

Meles stressed the need for implementing proper land use policies in a bid to involve small scale farmers to the maximum extent possible in the production of bio-energy in general and bio-fuels in particular.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Mines and Energy, Alemayehu Tegenu said the conference and expo will provide the opportunity to share and gain experience from countries like Brazil, who have accumulated long and rich experience in the research and development of the science and technology of bio-fuels.

Ethiopia is promoting energy efficiency and conservation measures at the supply and consumer side as well as utilizing blended ethanol at and around Addis Ababa transport system, Alemayehu noted.  He said the federal government is involved in upgrading the capacity of the existing sugar industries and constructing a number of new sugar real estate's to enhance the production of ethanol.

This development direction would help the country enhance modern energy supply, save foreign exchange and create job opportunity in feedstock production, manufacturing, transportation and environmental rehabilitation, which all contribute to bring sustainable development of the country.

The second Africa Bio-fuels Conference has brought more than 300 participants from across Europe, Africa, the USA and Brazil.