Biofuel Energy for Mitigation of Climate Change in Ethiopia

Abstract

There is a large interest in biofuels in Ethiopia as a substitute to petroleum-based fuels, with a purpose of enhancing energy security and promoting rural development. Ethiopia has announced a national biofuel production in the GTP in order to secure energy in the rural part and urban of Ethiopia. Its implications need to be studied intensively considering the fact that Ethiopia is a developing country with high population density and large rural population depending upon land for their livelihood. Ethiopia plan to reduce importing oil from foreign since the oil imported has huge potential of polluting the environment. Therefore, biofuel is free from pollutants; it is the main energy source for Ethiopia in the near future since Ethiopia economy is experiencing high growth rate, which may lead to enhanced demand for food, livestock products, timber, paper, etc., with implications for land use. The assessment is largely focused on first generation biofuel crops, since the Ethiopia program is currently dominated by many biofuel crops/trees, the process of biofuel and the relation environment and climate mitigation potential of biofuel. Technological,policy options, awareness creation required for promoting sustainable biofuel production in Ethiopia as recommendation from the review study.