Namibia Biofuel Frameworks

 

This section explores an overview of the policy and regulatory framework pertaining to biofuels in Namibia.  FAO defines bioenergy simply as energy derived or generated from biofuels.  Whereas biofuels are very widely defined as ‘fuels of renewable and biological origin, including woodfuel, charcoal, livestock manure, biogas, biohydrogen, bioalcohol, microbial biomass, agricultural wastes and bi-products, and energy crops’.   

 

Namibia:  There are no official legislation dedicated specifically to the regulation of biofuels.  Government has indicated interest in the production of biofuels.  Lack of regulatory mechanisms on a national level -  by no means unique to Namibia but reflects the international situation.  However, a ‘National Roadmap on Crop-Oil for Energy’ that was launched in August 2006 with focus on production, marketing and utilization among others,  will help the country to meet commitments to international agreements.  The Vision Statement agreed to in Namibia’s road map: (‘ Vision for a bio-oil energy industry in Namibia’)  ‘An established bio-oil energy industry that contributes to a thriving and profitable bio-oil energy economy and meaningfully supports Namibia’s development goals as envisaged in Vision 2030’ .   The road map establishes new development project, bio-fuel project of Namibia with exclusive focus on terrestrial crops, specifically Jatropha curcas.  Countries seeking to establish comprehensive regulatory frameworks for bioenergy should ensure that regulatory measures are linked with wider environmental protection and development goals.  Namibia is on the right track in terms of compatibility with the country’s Vision 2030 strategy and development aims, as well as requirements, regulations and mechanisms in terms of the Environmental Management Act and international environmental policy and legal instruments. 

 

Globally:  No international agreements specifically addressing bioenergy developed yet, several existing international environmental conventions and protocols impose obligations on member states to take regulatory measures to address climate change - and encourage the promotion of legal frameworks for bioenergy.  Legislative and Policy initiatives are often combined in regulating this new sector of biofuels.  Recently, some countries have chosen to create a regulatory framework for bioenergy or biofuels by passing legislation specifically on the topic.  In other situations, governments have expressed their commitment to promoting bioenergy by the formulation of policies that are not legally binding but designed to complement existing national legislative frameworks.

 

International Framework

National Framework

  • 1992 Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)
  • 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC);
  • Kyoto Protocol to the above-mentioned UNFCC
  • 1996 UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
  • 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
  • 2004 Bonn International Conference for Renewable Energies

 
  • Namibia’s Agronomic Industry Act of 1992
  • Namibia’s Petroleum Products Act 13 of 1990
  • Namibia’s Environmental Management Act 7 of 2007
  • Namibia’s Constitution (1990)
  • Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia Act 13 of 2001
  • Namibia’s Forest Act 12 of 2001

 

 

Surveys of comparative countries’ strategies show that correct public policies are vital for successful bio-energy development.   Promotional activities, such as fiscal support and budgetary grants (funded implementation and programmes, subsidies) and tax concessions are integral strategies to support the development of bio-energy industries.  We also need to bear in mind that the relationships between bioenergy & sustainable development (SD) are complex, depending on various factors, including:

 

The impacts of policy & legislation in related sectors, such as Agriculture, Forestry, Environment, Fisheries, Energy & Trade in Namibia may have profound effects on the development of an effective bioenergy programme.