Energy systems: Vulnerability – Adaptation – Resilience (VAR) 2009 Regional focus: sub-Saharan Africa Benin Report written by: Email: Moutaïrou Raoufou Badarou [email protected] E. C. Herbert Kouletio This project is supported in part with funding from: Mission d’Appui à l’Action internationale et des Organisations non Gouvernementales 56, rue de Passy – 75016 Paris – France |Tel: (33) 1.42.24.51.48 | Fax: (33) 1.42.24.86.33 Email : [email protected] | www.helio-international.org HELIO International / Benin 2 Contents Contents .................................................................................................................... 2 List of abbreviations .................................................................................................. 3 Executive summary ................................................................................................... 4 About the authors ...................................................................................................... 5 Country Overview ..................................................................................................... 6 Brief Description of Benin ..................................................................................... 6 Benin's Social Situation ......................................................................................... 8 Benin's Key Vulnerabilities.................................................................................. 10 Degradation ..................................................................................................... 10 Oil Imports ...................................................................................................... 11 Air Pollution .................................................................................................... 11 Climate Risks................................................................................................... 11 Benin’s Current Level of Vulnerability ................................................................ 12 Environmental ................................................................................................. 12 Economic......................................................................................................... 12 Technical ......................................................................................................... 14 Social............................................................................................................... 15 Civic................................................................................................................ 15 Energy Situation in Benin........................................................................................ 17 Primary Energy Sources....................................................................................... 17 Hydro .............................................................................................................. 17 Fossil Fuels...................................................................................................... 17 Biomass........................................................................................................... 17 Wind................................................................................................................ 17 Solar ................................................................................................................ 18 The Energy Demand Problem .............................................................................. 18 Transport ......................................................................................................... 19 Industry............................................................................................................ 20 Agriculture and services sector......................................................................... 20 Energy Supply ..................................................................................................... 20 Impact of demand on energy supply between 2002 and 2006 ........................... 21 Bilateral and international cooperation – investments....................................... 22 Changes to Legislation and Energy Policies ..................................................... 24 Benin’s Energy System........................................................................................ 24 Key Energy Systems........................................................................................ 25 Energy System Vulnerability ............................................................................... 27 Energy System Resilience.................................................................................... 29 Conclusions and Recommendations......................................................................... 31 Bibliography............................................................................................................ 33 HELIO International / Benin 3 List of abbreviations ABERME: Agence Beninoise d’Electrification Rurale et de Maîtrise d’Energie ASECNA: Agence pour la de Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique CEB: Communauté Electrique du Benin DGE: Direction Générale de l’Energie GDP: Gross Domestic Product GHG: Greenhouse gas GJ: Gigajoule GWh: Gigawatt-hour HDI: Human Development Index INSAE: Institut National de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Economique ktoe: thousand tonnes of oil equivalent kV: kilovolt kW: Kilowatt MDG: Millennium Development Goals MW: Megawatt MWh: Megawatt-hour PAE: Plan d’Action Environnementale PFSE: Projet de Fourniture de Services d’Energie PIP: Programme des Investissements Publics PRBE: Programme Régional Biomasse Energie SBEE: Société Beninoise d’Energie Electrique SONEB: Société Nationale des Eaux du Benin toe: tonne of oil equivalent UNDP: United Nations Development Programme WAGP: West African Gas Pipeline WAPP: West African Power Pool HELIO International / Benin 4 Executive summary Energy is an essential factor for a country's development. Countries with access to numerous and abundant energy sources usually have noticeably higher per capita GDP, have higher per capita income levels and greater life expectancy, etc., than those that lack such access to energy services. Without energy it is impossible to increase a country's productivity, to give impetus to its development, reduce poverty or achieve Millennium Development Goals. In Benin, as in most poor countries, biomass (firewood and charcoal) remains the dominant source of energy, followed by petroleum products and, to a lesser degree, electricity. Severe fluctuations in fossil fuel prices compromise domestic capacity to develop energy access, whereas the fuels used contribute to climate change. Benin remains vulnerable in the face of climatic changes that will modify trends and disrupt patterns of agriculture. However, the country has a huge and untapped energy potential. Sustainable access to energy will be possible if this is developed by combining policies and practices that address the issue of climate change. Since Benin ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the country has begun to incorporate climate change concerns into its development objectives. This report has been written to contribute to better integration of environmental issues into energy policy. In particular, the report provides an assessment of Benin's vulnerability and proposes measures aimed at increasing the resilience of its energy systems. The main measures are: reduction in the pressure on forest resources by promotion of renewable energy and efficient fuelwood technologies; and, improving the population's access to a range of energy sources (petroleum products, electricity) especially in rural areas. HELIO International / Benin 5 About the authors Moutaïrou Raoufou Badarou Technical Advisor on Energy Mining Resources Cabinet of the Minister of Mines, Energy and Water 04 B.P : 1412 Cotonou Tel: 21 31 73 22 | Fax : 21 31 35 46 Cotonou E-mail: [email protected] Publications Benin's energy balance 1996−2001. Writing and publication of first, second and third Benin Energy Management Reports: 1999; 2000; TBE-2001. Study of the impact of energy on Benin's industrial development (for the Ministry of Industry with UNDP funding, 2000). Recommendations for optimum management of Benin's energy resources. Saving energy to protect the environment (Environment Agency, 1999. Published by MEHU). Understanding Benin's energy crises (La Nation newspaper, 23 June 2000). Publication of an article in Benin's Energy Management Report, in Liaison Energie Francophone. Biofuels to save Africa from poverty and famine, May 2008. HELIO International Reports, 2001 to 2007. E. C. Herbert Kouletio Manager for Promotion of Fuelwood Saving and Substitute Fuels Projet de Fourniture de Services d’Energie (PFSE) / Direction Générale de l’Energie 06 B.P : 2049 Cotonou Tel: 21 37 73 84/ 85 | Fax : 21 37 73 83 Email: [email protected] Publications Benin's energy balance, 2002 to 2005 Writing and publication of Benin's Energy Information Systems reports 2002, 2004 and 2005 HELIO International Reports 2001 to 2007 HELIO International / Benin 6 Country Overview Population: 8,294,941 (2008) Urban population: 46.1% Rural population: 53.9% Human Development Index: 0.437 (2005) Access to electricity: 23% Per capita GDP: USD1,500 (2007) Main agricultural produce: cotton, maize, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, groundnuts,