7
April 2009
Addis Abeba — Ethiopia on Monday launched a bamboo firewood and charcoal programme in the Benishangul-Gumuz Amhara and SNNPR states as part of efforts to use sustainable energy.
The
program is a result of partnership between The International Network for Bamboo
and Rattan (INBAR), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), according to
a media statement from INBAR on Friday.
The statement said the program under the theme : "Bamboo as sustainable biomass energy: A suitable alternative for firewood and charcoal production in Africa" is a collaborative project between INBAR, EU, the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Rural Energy Development and Promotion Centre (EREDPC) of Ethiopia, the Federal Micro and Small Enterprises Agency (FeMSEDA) of Ethiopia.
The project is the first of its kind that seeks to develop bamboo firewood and charcoal as an alternative to wood charcoal in the countries that would be expected to benefit from the venture.
It said the project aimed at increasing the range of useable bamboos available in Africa establish bamboo charcoal micro and macro enterprises and help governments and civil society organizations to support bamboo firewood and charcoal production and use.
The statement said the new bamboo charcoal technologies developed in Asia by INBAR and its partners over the past decade had enormous potential to help reduce deforestation and generate sustainable incomes.
It also marked a major step in their application for improved energy security, environment and livelihoods of the people of the bamboo-growing regions in Africa.
It is expected to attract at least 1,000 enterprises that would produce bamboo charcoal and 30,000 households would be expected to use it.
The
statement said over 6,000 people were expected to be trained in bamboo
cultivation, best bamboo firewood practices and bamboo charcoal production, set
up bamboo charcoal technology centres and develop marketing strategies for
bamboo charcoal.
It
said the EU said the programme was in line with its major concern of promoting
sustainable and long term development.