Bioenergy in Southern Africa: An opportunity for regional integration?

ABSTRACT

This introductory paper sets out the rationale for revisiting questions surrounding biofuel futures in Southern Africa and exploring the case for the establishment of a regional market. This contrasts with most research that has focused upon benefits and risks of production and consumption for individual countries. The analysis in this issue suggests that while benefits exist, the key challenges that have stifled production and consumption to date would need to be overcome. Unlocking trade requires relaxing requirements for South African manufacturers to source all their feedstock domestically. Key among factors to encourage production is resolving agricultural investment processes, particularly designing inclusive business models and clarifying land acquisition processes.

KEYWORDS:

• biofuels
• Southern Africa
• regional integration

JEL classification:

• Q16
• Q18
• R11

Acknowledgment

The financial support of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) for the Belmont Forum project FICESSA in the production of this publication is greatly appreciated and acknowledged. The authors would also like to thank the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research for their assistance in this research under the Regional Growth and Development in Southern Africa project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Channing Arndt http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2472-6300

Faaiqa Hartley http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9799-3923