Africa/ LAC Inter-regional Cooperation:

Renewable Energy for Productive Uses

It is well recognized that energy is essential for sustainable development and that improved access to reliable energy services is vital for the fight against poverty and for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and other targets. In that context, renewable energy has assumed a critical role in the energy supply chain by contributing towards meeting the rising demand for energy, especially in the developing countries, apart from addressing serious environmental and economic issues, including the threats of climate change.

Inter-regional cooperation is among the areas were singled out by the GRULAC countries in the Regional Programme for LAC 2006-2009. In addition, the first high-level bio-fuels seminar in Africa was jointly organized by the African Union, the Government of  Brazil and UNIDO at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (30 July- 1 August 2007). One of the conclusions of this seminar was to support the development of inter-regional cooperation for promoting renewable energy for productive uses.

During the UNIDO DG's mission to the LAC region and in particular to Brazil and Colombia  in October 2007, discussions took place on different issues, in particular energy and agro-industrial activities. In that context, UNIDO was invited and took the lead in strengthening inter-regional cooperation between LAC ad African countries with a focus on renewable energy and agro-industry related issues activities.

With the objective of implementing this initiative, two African Study Tours were successfully completed during 2008

  • Brazil: The African Study Tour to Brazil took place from 16 May to 1 June 2008 with the participation of six African countries: South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, Mozambique, Tanzania and Nigeria. The participants had the opportunity to learn about bio-fuel value chains and other issues, e.g. the recovery of arid lands, transformation processes from bio-diesel to bio-ethanol, the price differences between Latin America and Europe for bio-fuels and the environmental benefit of using such energy sources. 
  • Colombia: As a result of the agreement reached between the UNIDO DG and the President of Colombia in November 2007, the African Study Tour to Colombia took place from 17 to 24 November 2008 with the involvement of five African countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinee Conakry, Liberia and Senegal. The participants took advantage of Colombia's experience in palm oil for bio-oils from the perspective of the institutional framework, use and sustainability, production of bio-diesel and ethanol from cane, international certifications and regulatory frames, improvement programmes, plantations management, treatment of emerging diseases, development of specific hybrids, optimization of the extracting oil process, etc.
  • The 3rd African Study Tour visiting the LAC region took place from 10 to 15 April 2011 in Mexico. Mexico has adopted the principle of "sharing experiences"with African countries in areas where the country has achieved high technical levels and which could provide support for combating poverty and furthering social development. Within this context, the Mexican Government and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs is keen to build up a triangular cooperation with UNIDO and African countries to promote inter alia renewable energy for industrial and productive uses.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr. Carlos Chanduvi,
UNIDO Field Operations Officer, LAC Programme