POLICY BRIEF - THE SCINNOVENT CENTre
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POLICY BRIEF
NO.15/2020
TACKLING FOREST COVER LOSS IN MALAWI BY SWITCHING TO
BIOGAS
Malawi University of Science and Technoloogy and Green Impact Technologies
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS refilling easier for consumers.
1. The Government of Malawi should 3. Government, private sector and
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
consider reviewing tax regimes on NGOs should consider coordinated
importation and sales of biogas market activation and awareness
It is estimated that 96% of Malawians
rely on biomass (firewood and components to stimulate its uptake campaigns aimed at dispelling
charcoal) for cooking, thereby Despite the recent review of taxes negative perceptions of safety and
increasingly driving depletion of forest
on renewable energy products by cost of biogas
cover across the country, especially in
communities that are close to main government, some components There are unfounded fears that
urban centers. Integrated Household used in developing biogas systems gas is unsafe and that it is fuel for
Survey (IHS)4 figures show that still attract taxes. To make Biogas the wealthy. Market activation and
increasing population has added
competitive against charcoal, firewood awareness campaigns on the safety,
approximately 4.8 million more people
as users of firewood and charcoal for and electricity this can only be efficiency and affordability of gas for
cooking. achieved if there is progressive laws cooking could have a positive impact
and a conducive environment to on driving its uptake as an alternative
Electricity access remains at 11%
meaning that majority are not increase its uptake by new developers, cooking fuel.
connected to the grid and rely on users and make it a first choice fuel
charcoal for cooking and heating.
This lucrative charcoal and fuelwood
for those using it as back-up. This TESTIMONIALS
market drives deforestation. In could be achieved if import duty and “When I heard that MUST and GIT are
addition to erratic supply, increasing value added taxes are waived on developing a biogas plant that will make
electricity tariffs have meant that more
all equipment to incentivise private me save time spent collecting firewood
households are turning to biomass as
their fuel of choice as it is perceived sector investment in the Biogas and make savings in procuring charcoal I
to be cheaper and readily available on value chain and reduce prices for was happy. Since then, I have been keenly
the market. looking forward to use gas for cooking.”
consumers.
Despite reported high adoption of Nancy Phiri, entrepreneur - she owns a
alternative cooking fuels such as 2. Private sector players in the biogas restaurant at Tsangano Market.
biogas in most sub-Saharan African value chain should introduce
countries, uptake in Malawi has been
stagnant. A study conducted by Malawi incentives that could reduce barriers “Biogas is the only alternative cooking
University of Science and Technology to entry and make biogas, reliable fuel that as a department we are keen
in partnership with Green Impact and affordable for most consumers to promote to replace charcoal, which
Technologies revealed Tsangano
Market has high potential for biogas The study established that market is leading to rampant deforestation
generation where a 150m3 digester barriers such as high initial costs for in Malawi.” Mr Joseph Kalowekamo,
could be developed. new users are contributing to low Assistant Director, Department of Energy
uptake of the gas as a cooking fuel. Affairs
Exploring innovative credit facilities,
pay as you go models and smaller “As a regulator we are aware of the
gas cylinders are some initiatives challenges facing biogas uptake in
that would positively drive uptake. Malawi, hence we are in the process of
Furthermore, there is need for developing a regulatory framework that
investment in increasing the supply will guide, and promote the development
and distribution network for biogas of biogas systems in Malawi. Malawi
systems being developed to make
1
Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) Tsangano Market was found to be a partners and private sector to put
has also lined up plenty of activities to busy daily market, with a number of in place necessary strategies to
create awareness and address issues products on sale and too much waste promote the benefits of biogas
of safety that may hinder biogas being generated with cabbage, Irish as an efficient alternative cooking
adoption in Malawi.” Mrs Alinafe potatoes and green beans recording fuel and drive uptake, especially in
Mkaveya, Director of Fuels, MERA massive production daily. urban and peri urban areas.
3. Biogas and associated equipment
“As an entrepreneur, I see that biogas The Market for biogas in Malawi has such as gas cylinders were
could be one of the solutions to energy potential to grow subjected to import and value
problems in Malawi. I am more than The study established great potential added taxes which made it more
willing to scale up my business to for biogas at Tsangano and potential expensive option for consumers.
reach rural areas if there could be market growth in Malawi especially in Revising the tax regimes by
provision of incentives as the cost of the urban and peri-urban areas, where government in the recent budget
operation is high if we are to scale to electricity supply has been erratic for will positively impact willingness
rural communities.” Admore Chiumia, several years. Coincidentally, urban to pay for the gas among
Managing Director, Green Impact households are the main market for consumers and consequently
Technologies. charcoal and firewood. The study help in weaning off charcoal and
found that weaning off demand for firewood users, contributing to
“Adoption of biogas technology is like charcoal and firewood in these areas conservation of forests.
killing two birds with a single stone. would be an effective strategy in
The technology is a solution to waste restoration of damaged forest areas.
as well as energy challenges currently The main challenge is making biogas
facing Malawi. All stakeholders can be readily available and cost competitive
assured that for every single Kwacha to charcoal and firewood. It was
invested in the biogas technology further established that affordability
multiple challenges are solved.” Hope and availability could make biogas a
Chamdimba, Staff Associate in Energy competitive alternative cooking fuel
Resources at Malawi University of for rural households across Malawi.
Science and Technology.
CONCLUSION
KEY FINDINGS 1. Malawi added more people to
Energy Expenditures the population of those cooking
Although the study found mostly using biomass fuels, further
used source of heating energy is straining the already depleted
charcoal, the study also discovered forest areas. IHS 2018 showed
that electricity is the highest average that approximately, 4.8 more
expenditure for business operations. users of firewood and charcoal
Table 1 shows expenditures of were added to the population.
different sources of energy at It is imperative that alternative
Tsangano Turn-off Market. cooking fuels such as biogas are
given more emphasis to drive
Tsangano Market restaurants and the uptake and use, to wean off
surrounding households report high reliance on charcoal and firewood.
expenses on cooking. 2. Recent trends in electricity and
fuel pricing show that biogas will
The deployment of biogas systems will become a more cost competitive
save women from unsafe cooking fuels cooking fuel in Malawi. Electricity
that present health hazards to women tariffs were recently revised
as they do most of the cooking. upwards and can only continue
Women are exposed to harmful fumes to increase while prices of
during cooking due to indoor air petrol and diesel have been
pollution from charcoal and firewood fluctuating upwards driving up
as they do most of the cooking. Table the cost of transporting charcoal
2 shows different potential types of and firewood to urban centers.
wastes available for biogas production This is an opportunity for the
at Tsangano Turnoff Market. Government, development
SCINNOVENT CENTRE - POLICY BRIEF NO. 15 2
Figure 1: Expenditures of different sources of energy at Tsangano Turnoff Market
Figure 2: Different Potential types of waste available as a feedstock for biogas generation at Tsangano Turnoff Market
Figure 3: The Tsangano Biogas Project
3
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P.O. Box 52486 - 00100, GPO, Nairobi, Kenya
Website: www.scinnovent.org; Tel: +254 020 2173433
SCINNOVENT CENTRE - POLICY BRIEF NO. 15 4
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