National workshop on bioethanol for clean cooking in Uganda

Background

The Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) is a multilateral initiative established in 2006 with the aim to   support “biomass and biofuels deployment, particularly in developing countries where biomass use is prevalent”. GBEP aims mainly to: promote high-level policy dialogue on bioenergy and facilitate international cooperation; support national and regional bioenergy policy-making and market development; favour the transformation of biomass towards more efficient and sustainable practices; and foster exchange of information, skills and technologies through bilateral and multilateral collaboration. As of today, the Partnership brings together approximately 90 members, including national governments and international organizations, and represents the leading forum for discussions on the sustainability of bioenergy. The GBEP Secretariat, based in FAO headquarters, has vast expertise in organising national and regional forums, bringing together relevant national and regional stakeholders to discuss specific topics related to the promotion of the sustainable production and use of modern bioenergy.

As of today, more than 2.5 billion people (around 30 percent global population) still do not have clean cooking facilities, and about 800 million people do not have access to electricity. A just transition from traditional or fossil fuels, like fuelwood or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), to modern and clean cooking options, including bioenergy solutions, is urgently needed as a contribution to achieve SDG7 (Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all) but also many others related SDGs. The situation i​n​ Uganda is particularly acute, where the rates of access to clean cooking are one of the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the government has set an ambitious target to reach 50 percent access to clean cooking by 2040.

Bioethanol cookstoves have emerged in recent years as one of the most valuable and accepted bioenergy options for clean cooking. Bioethanol is primarily derived from plant-based sources such as sugarcane, corn or other biomass materials, which can be produced on marginal land or as secondary crops on agricultural land, as well as from agricultural residues. There are multiple benefits to using bioethanol as a cooking fuel compared to traditional or fossil fuels. Bioethanol is a clean burning fuel, producing minimal smoke, soot or toxic fumes, which helps improve indoor air quality and reduce the risk of respiratory diseases and blindness therefore ensuring a healthy environment, especially for women and children in emerging economies. Switching to bioethanol cooking stoves can also reduce GHG emissions compared to traditional energy forms, while reducing the pressure on forest resources and contributing to Forest Landscape Restoration. Moreover, bioethanol as a cooking fuel is versatile, can be easily transported and stored, and is readily available in many parts of the world. Notably, bioethanol cookstoves offer a straightforward design and can be manufactured at a relatively low cost in countries with industries producing items such as ​​steel pots.

Although bioethanol cookstoves, along with other clean cooking technologies, offer multiple benefits, its uptake in emerging economies can face several barriers. These include: limited infrastructure and supply chain networks for ethanol production, distribution and storage, which can limit fuel availability and technical capacity for manufacturing and maintenance; consumer awareness and local cooking habits; relatively high cost of ethanol appliances and fuel; and lack of awareness regarding safety standards and ​​regulations.

This national dialogue is part of a wider series of initiatives implemented in the context of the FAO/GBEP project “International dialogues on bioethanol as a clean cooking fuel in selected countries in Africa and Asia”. The project, which is kindly supported by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS), has the overall objective to facilitate dialogue on bioethanol for clean cooking among stakeholders from different realms, with a view to intensify opportunities for collaboration and to develop a joint agenda for action to improve the sustainability of the sector. The project aims to better understand the suitability, and the economic and social sustainability of bioethanol for clean cooking in various country contexts, such as urban and rural areas, and in humanitarian settings. This will allow for the identification of barriers preventing the development of the sector and a discussion on how to overcome them, as well as the identification of best practices to be replicated in other countries. Furthermore, it will provide the opportunity to continue a dialogue between the public and private sector, financial institutions and the civil society on ways to improve cooperation to facilitate access to modern and clean cooking technologies for all and support a just energy transition.  

 

Objectives of the workshop

The workshop is organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda (MEMD) and with the financial support of the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS), in the context of the project “Support to the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP): international dialogues on bioethanol as a clean cooking fuel in selected countries in Africa and Asia”.

The workshop has the following objectives:

• Convene stakeholders from relevant government ministries, research institutions, private sector and civil society to discuss options for achieving energy access for clean cooking, including the potential contribution of bioethanol. 
• Identify and discuss environmental, social and economic considerations for the local production of bioethanol and its use in clean cooking. 
• Promote consensus among stakeholders on the necessary conditions, standards and policies for the sustainable growth of the local market for bioethanol production and use for clean cooking. 
• Identify financing mechanisms and investment opportunities to facilitate the sustainable development of the sector. 

Agenda

09.00 – 09.30	Registration of participants
09.30 – 10.00	Opening session and welcome remarks
	Master of ceremonies: Micheal Ahimbisibwe, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
	Welcome statement
	Charles Owach, Assistant FAO Representative for Uganda
	Statement
	H.E. William W. Popp, Ambassador of USA to Uganda
	Statement
	Mr. Daudi Migereko, Head of the National Biofuels Committee
	Opening remarks
	Hon. Okaasai Opolot, Minister of State for Energy
10.00 – 10.15	Photo session and coffee break
10:15 – 11.30	Session 1: Bioethanol for clean cooking: Current status, policy and regulatory framework
	The session will focus on the general status of clean cooking in Uganda, how bioethanol is contributing to this agenda, the policies, institutional and regulatory frameworks supporting bioethanol as a cooking fuel, the challenges hindering this transition and government’s strategy to address these challenges.
	Moderator: Justine Akumu, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
	The urgent need for a just and inclusive transition to clean cooking
	Elizabeth Kasenene - Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (Uganda Women’s Enterprise Alliance Limited (UWEAL)
	Uganda’s National Integrated Clean Cooking Strategy (NICCS)
	Brian E. Isabirye, Commissioner for Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development
	Regulatory framework on bioethanol for cooking and bioethanol stoves – quality and safety standards in Uganda
	Irene Nakagya and Richard Ebong, Uganda National Bureau of Standards
	Q&A session
11.30 – 13.00	Session 2: Social and economic sustainability considerations of bioethanol use for clean cooking
	This session will examine the benefits of the use of bioethanol for clean cooking, as well as consider the potential weaknesses of this solution and barriers to uptake. The social and economic factors related to different clean cooking options will be compared.
	Moderator: Alicia El Mamouni, PIVOT Clean Energy
	Clean cooking solutions in humanitarian settings in Africa
	Purity Kendi Gituma, Mercy Corps, on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mercy Corps, and GPA
	Strengths and weaknesses of bioethanol for clean cooking in Uganda: Analysis of sustainability compared to other options in urban and rural areas and in humanitarian settings
	Agnes Naluwagga, Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation Uganda (CREEC)
	Bottlenecks in clean cooking and how the private sector is coming up with possible solutions
	Sarah Babirye, Uganda National Alliance on Clean Cooking (UNACC)
	Creating a sustainable bioethanol distribution network in Uganda: Data and experiences of KOKO Networks in the region
	Sophie Odupoy, KOKO Networks
	Q&A session
13.00 – 14.00	Lunch
14.00 – 15.15	Session 3: Opportunities and threats for sustainable production of bioethanol and related technologies at the national level
	This session will investigate the sustainability of the national production of bioethanol from locally sourced feedstock, as well as the manufacture of bioethanol cookstoves. Presentations will focus on development opportunities for farmers on one hand and potential environmental or social threats on the other.
	Moderator: Grace Bwengye, National Planning Authority
	Opportunities and threats for bioethanol production in Uganda
	David Jespersen Byensi, Smart Start Industries
	Vertically integrated bioethanol value chains for clean cooking
	Mohammed Kadhi, Bukona Agro Processors Ltd
	Q&A session
15.15 – 15.30	Coffee break
15:30 – 16:40	Session 4: Investment and financing options and opportunities for clean cooking in Uganda
	This roundtable session will focus on financing and investment opportunities to support the sustainable development of the sector.
	Moderator: Nicholas Mukisa, NREP
	Keynote Speech: Insights from GIZ Uganda
	Victoria Butegwa, GIZ Uganda
	Roundtable panel discussion
	- Virginia Ssemakula, Equity bank Uganda, Energy, Environment and Climate Change unit
	- Ekanath Khatiwada, SNV
	- Miriam Kisamba Bwengye, Uganda Development Corporation (UDC)
	- Victoria Butegwa, GIZ Uganda
16:40 – 17:00	Concluding remarks
	Overview of discussions, next steps and follow up activities.
	Tiziana Pirelli, Coordinator of the Global Bioenergy Partnership, FAO