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Producing Biofuels in Low-Income Countries: An Integrated Environmental and Economic Assessment for Tanzania

Author

Listed:
  • Giacomo Branca
  • Erika Felix
  • Irini Maltsoglou
  • Luis E. Rincon
  • James Thurlow

Abstract

This paper evaluates the greenhouse gas emissions and economic impacts from producing biofuels in Tanzania. Sequentially-linked models capture natural resource constraints; emissions from land use change; economywide growth linkages; and household poverty. Results indicate that there are economic incentives to convert unused lands to sugarcane-ethanol production, but only grasslands (not forests) have a reasonable carbon payback period.

Suggested Citation

  • Giacomo Branca & Erika Felix & Irini Maltsoglou & Luis E. Rincon & James Thurlow, 2014. "Producing Biofuels in Low-Income Countries: An Integrated Environmental and Economic Assessment for Tanzania," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2014-018, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2014-018
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    Cited by:

    1. Gasparatos, A. & Mudombi, S. & Balde, B.S. & von Maltitz, G.P. & Johnson, F.X. & Romeu-Dalmau, C. & Jumbe, C. & Ochieng, C. & Luhanga, D. & Nyambane, A. & Rossignoli, C. & Jarzebski, M.P. & Dam Lam, R, 2022. "Local food security impacts of biofuel crop production in southern Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    2. Ahmed, Abubakari & Gasparatos, Alexandros, 2020. "Multi-dimensional energy poverty patterns around industrial crop projects in Ghana: Enhancing the energy poverty alleviation potential of rural development strategies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Benson, Todd & Randriamamonjy, Josee & Fang, Peixun & Nyange, David & Thurlow, James & Diao, Xinshen, 2017. "Prospects for the Sectoral Transformation of the Rural Economy in Tanzania: A Review of the Evidence," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 270634, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    4. Anders Hansson & Mathias Fridahl & Simon Haikola & Pius Yanda & Noah Pauline & Edmund Mabhuye, 2020. "Preconditions for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Tanzania," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6851-6875, October.
    5. Franziska Schuenemann & William A. Kerr, 2019. "European Union non-tariff barriers to imports of African biofuels," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(4), pages 407-425, October.
    6. Brinkman, Marnix L.J. & Wicke, Birka & Faaij, André P.C. & van der Hilst, Floor, 2019. "Projecting socio-economic impacts of bioenergy: Current status and limitations of ex-ante quantification methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    7. Berazneva, Julia & Woolf, Dominic & Lee, David R., 2021. "Local lignocellulosic biofuel and biochar co-production in Sub-Saharan Africa: The role of feedstock provision in economic viability," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    8. Gasparatos, Alexandros & Doll, Christopher N.H. & Esteban, Miguel & Ahmed, Abubakari & Olang, Tabitha A., 2017. "Renewable energy and biodiversity: Implications for transitioning to a Green Economy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 161-184.

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