Namibia Conference and Workshop
Ministry of Fisheries and Resources, Swakopmund 29 - 30 April 2013
Presenter Biographies
Detlof von Oertzen
VO Consulting, PO Box 8168, Swakopmund, Namibia
Dr Detlof von Oertzen is an independent Namibian technical and management consultant. As a trained physicist with a finance and management background, Detlof has in-depth knowledge and experience of energy-, management- and environment-related topics, and business development. He has worked in numerous multi-disciplinary teams and as a member of international expert groups, and has been appointed by a variety of international as well as southern African authorities and institutions to undertake feasibility studies, undertake project conceptualisation assignments, project development, implementation and monitoring assignments, participate in policy assessments and development, and develop management solutions for optimised human and other resource use.
Detlof’s main thematic work areas are in the field of energy, the environment and radiation monitoring and management. He has extensive work experience in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency systems and technologies, the environmental impacts of energy supply systems, climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean technologies, financing mechanisms including carbon trading, clean development mechanism and the voluntary emissions market, energy demand management and energy supply options, as well as science and technology policy and hands-on management.
TOPIC: BIOFUEL IN NAMIBIA
This paper provides a brief overview of the emerging Namibian bioenergy landscape. It considers the policy environment in which bioenergy endeavours take place. Typical bioenergy uses are discussed, and compared to the alternatives that are available locally. The paper provides reflections on the affordability of indigenous bioenergy sources, and relates the bioenergy uses to the demographic and poverty realities characterising Namibia. A summary of the bioenergy potentials and recent projects undertaken in Namibia’s bioenergy sector are provided. The paper concludes with reflections on the opportunities for bioenergy in Namibia, and a summary of key issues that must be considered when embarking on bioenergy ventures.
TOPIC: SOLID BIOMASS VALUE CHAINS
This paper introduces two Namibian bioenergy projects that rely on solid biomass as feedstock. It provides a brief introduction to the typical value chain elements encountered in solid biomass projects. It presents a comparison and discussion about one particularly relevant part of the solid biomass value chain elements, i.e. harvesting, and shows how the options to use manual versus mechanical harvesting influences the labour, capital expenditure and revenue base of solid biomass projects. A summary of the value chain potentials is presented, followed by a framework to assess and evaluate the operating space in which biomass projects would typically take place in Namibia. The paper concludes with reflections on lessons learned in solid biomass value chains, and their relevance to forthcoming bioenergy endeavours in Namibia, focusing on opportunities and constraints, and highlighting the enabling factors required to create bioenergy activities in the country.