6 The Status and Future of Charcoal in the Energy …
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rural areas (GoU, 2015; Szabó, Moner-Girona, Kougias, Bailis, & Bódis,
2016; Alfaro & Jones, 2018; Rural Electrification Agency [REA], 2020;
Cotton, Kirshner, & Salite, 2019; Kihwel, Hur, & Kyaruzi, 2012).
Despite increased electricity generation and more grid connections,
however, the production, trade and consumption of charcoal have
prevailed in sub-Saharan Africa. For instance, in the urban centres
of Mozambique, Burkina Faso and Zambia, charcoal consumption is
still intensive according to Cotton, Kirshner and Salite (2019), Khellaf
(2018), and Pesa (2017). Pesa (2017) further stated that people with
access to electricity maintain charcoal braziers as a backup to their
modern energy alternatives for cooking. Further North, in Egypt, where
sources of electricity are diverse, and most of the population is connected
to the grid, charcoal is still an important part of residential energy
consumption, sustaining the excessive local production, and the country’s
imports, which have been increasing over the past decade to serve local
demand (International Renewable Energy Agency [IRENA], 2018; FAO,
2019).
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the status of charcoal
as an energy source and examine its role in the energy-consumption mix
of informal economies. The energy-supply mix in sub-Saharan Africa is
diversifying through increased electrification to curb energy-related forest
loss. We explore the production of charcoal, its trade as a commodity,
and the role of middlemen involved in its delivery to local and international markets. Critical questions of adaptation from the use of charcoal,
especially in areas where consumers have access to ‘modern’ alternatives
and charcoal as fuel for cooking, are also examined to make a holistic
assessment of, and provide conclusions on, the future of charcoal in
sub-Saharan Africa.
6.2 Environmental and Health Implications
of Charcoal Production
and Consumption
Most of the stringent regulations against charcoal production in Africa
are based on reducing its impact on the environment. However, despite
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rural areas (GoU, 2015; Szabó, Moner-Girona, Kougias, Bailis, & Bódis,
2016; Alfaro & Jones, 2018; Rural Electrification Agency [REA], 2020;
Cotton, Kirshner, & Salite, 2019; Kihwel, Hur, & Kyaruzi, 2012).
Despite increased electricity generation and more grid connections,
however, the production, trade and consumption of charcoal have
prevailed in sub-Saharan Africa. For instance, in the urban centres
of Mozambique, Burkina Faso and Zambia, charcoal consumption is
still intensive according to Cotton, Kirshner and Salite (2019), Khellaf
(2018), and Pesa (2017). Pesa (2017) further stated that people with
access to electricity maintain charcoal braziers as a backup to their
modern energy alternatives for cooking. Further North, in Egypt, where
sources of electricity are diverse, and most of the population is connected
to the grid, charcoal is still an important part of residential energy
consumption, sustaining the excessive local production, and the country’s
imports, which have been increasing over the past decade to serve local
demand (International Renewable Energy Agency [IRENA], 2018; FAO,
2019).
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the status of charcoal
as an energy source and examine its role in the energy-consumption mix
of informal economies. The energy-supply mix in sub-Saharan Africa is
diversifying through increased electrification to curb energy-related forest
loss. We explore the production of charcoal, its trade as a commodity,
and the role of middlemen involved in its delivery to local and international markets. Critical questions of adaptation from the use of charcoal,
especially in areas where consumers have access to ‘modern’ alternatives
and charcoal as fuel for cooking, are also examined to make a holistic
assessment of, and provide conclusions on, the future of charcoal in
sub-Saharan Africa.
6.2 Environmental and Health Implications
of Charcoal Production
and Consumption
Most of the stringent regulations against charcoal production in Africa
are based on reducing its impact on the environment. However, despite