GCL Event-Environmental Sustainability in Scotland and Malawi 20th October 2011

1. Biofuels in Malawi
Charlie Henderson
Climate Futures and JANEEMO
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2. Biofuels in Malawi
• drivers for biofuels
• what’s currently happening
• two case studies: BERL and JANEEMO
• big biofuel questions
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3. Why biofuels?
• surging oil prices and tightening carbon budgets
driving international demand
• FOREX shortages: agriculture provided over 90% in
2003
• Employment: over 85% of population in
agriculture
• Fuel shortages: big contributor to unrest
• Land and climate suitable for many biofuel crops
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4. National approach and shortcomings
• As presented by Malawi Energy Regulatory
Authority (MERA)
• The energy laws 2004 recognise biofuels in the
energy mix
• however, little or no regulatory environment on
timing or implementation of targets, incentives for
investment, feedstock types
• also: need for RTD, oil company embracing of
blends, export/national level playing fields

5. Biofuels Association in Malawi
• producers, NGOs, government
representatives
• holds events, lobbies government
for overarching policies
• a single voice to Government
• chaired by BERL
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6. BFA is lobbying for
• price parity, VAT
• consultants appointed to consider tax for
industry sustainability, food production,
poverty, land use
• protecting local producers by banning imports
(‘side selling’)
• which feedstock? eg Jatropha, soya, sunflower
• standards
• alignment of policies ie agriculture, finance,
trade, development planning
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7. BERL
• Bio-Energy Resources Ltd
• Founded 2006, investment 2008
• 70 field staff – 10 districts
including Salima, Kasungu,
Lilongwe
• signed up over 20,000
smallholders
• planted Jatropha as boundary
fences: 600-1000 trees
• guaranteed 25 MK per kg, 10 year
contract
• processed to paraffin substitute
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8. BERL
• proof of concept
processing plant being built
• expecting 110,000 litres in
2012
• and 4m litres in 2016
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9. JANEEMO
• agro-forestry initiative at the
smallholder level (2000
households)
• Jatropha, planted as
boundary fence; Neem
(pollarded for firewood);
Moringa (intercropped and
boundary)
• encourage use and trading
locally

10. Comparison
- Malawian - Scot / Malawian
- commercial - Donor, NfP, local
- fixed price - n/a
- long term contract - n/a
-Jatropha (alongside - Jatropha, Neem
other staples) and Moringa
- lobbies government - not political
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11. Big biofuel questions
• Does the emerging biofuels industry present a
viable job market for Malawian farmers?
• Does this threaten food security?
• How therefore can a food/biofuel balance be
struck?
• What are the best smallholder models for
sustainable food / biofuel production?
• what crops?
• which planting techniques eg boundary
fencing, alley cropping, river banks,
monoculture
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12. Big biofuel questions
• Should biofuel be exported?
• How do biofuels complement other
environmental initiatives eg reforestation,
erosion control?
• Will biofuels replace forests or grasslands?
• How can a partnership model between Malawi
and Scotland best foster successful biofuel
enterprises?
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