Mali

Mali is just one example of the growing need for alternative fuels and energy on the continent of Africa. Nearly half of the energy produced comes from wood; with 80 percent of the total energy consumed coming from biomass resources. Partners for Africa is jsut one of many organizations that are trying to address the issues of energy and community development in these third-world nations as they slowly incorporate modern technology and enter into the global economic arena.

The Household Energy and Universal Rural Access (HEURA) project is supporting the government of Malis efforts to provide basic energy services to poverty stricken regions of the nation. The $44 Million project is one of many that the World Bank has entered into over the past five years. The World Bank estimates that if just 1 percent of the capital that is currently invested into ethanol research is directed towards projects on the African continent, over 120 billion liters of biofuels could be produced yearly. This investment would produce 30 million new jobs and the result could be $20 billion in biofuels exports.

Contacts:

Mali- Philippe Girard, CIRAD and ISOMET

World Bank- Boris Utria