Ethanol as a household fuel in Madagascar
Practical Action
Rather than subsidies, government should focus on assisting the new fuel market by avoiding
injecting cost into it while it is young and fragile. Ethanol as a fuel must be differentiated
from ethanol for other uses, and if possible, taxes should be removed or reduced on ethanol
fuel to assist it in getting into the market
International experience with both improved household cooking approaches as well as ethanol
production is significant and growing. The recently launched Global Alliance for Clean
Cookstoves, involving engagement by national and international organisations at the highest
levels, was launched in late 2010, reflecting the growing awareness of the issue of HAP, and its
connection with health and the environment. World production of ethanol is rising, with its
growth linked with high oil prices, international awareness of global warming and concerns about
energy security.
Although Africa’s ethanol base is less developed than those in Latin and North America, several
countries are increasing production and there is significant potential for the African biofuels
industry to expand. Despite recent growth however, the global market for biofuels is still in its
relative infancy. The dominant current consumption of ethanol is for transport fuel-blending;
however, in developing country contexts, household energy often accounts for 75-90% of total
energy demand. Ethanol has been shown to have potential as a cleaner and healthier household
fuel in several countries, and development of a stable domestic ethanol household fuel market is
considered to have potential to offer substantial economic, health and environmental benefits at
local, national and international levels.
The realisation of such benefits in Madagascar would involve a substantial shift in current
patterns of production and consumption, and the overcoming of a series of barriers. Although
ethanol is produced in Madagascar, production levels are currently low in the large-scale formal
sector which has experienced declines in output and productivity in recent years. Small-scale
artisanal production of alcohol from sugarcane continues, but at fuel concentration and price
levels not suitable for use as a household fuel.
Woodfuel and charcoal are available at low prices externalising their environmental damage, and
their use is accompanied by a low awareness of the dangers of HAP. Furthermore, a series of
barriers to the expansion of ethanol as a household fuel has been encountered in previous
programmes internationally. These have included promotion of inefficient or unpopular ethanol
stoves, fuel blending mandates pulling affordable supply away from households, quality issues
with ethanol strength and impurities, policy variability, and competing fuel price fluctuations. If
Madagascar is to develop a successful ethanol household fuel programme at scale, it would be the
first country to do so.
References and further reading
Liquid Biofuels and Sustainable Development Practical Action Technical Brief
Full project report: Ethanol as a Household Fuel in Madagascar: Health Benefits,
Economic Assessment and Review of African Lessons for Scaling up, Component A, Final
Report: URL
Ashden Award 2008; Gaia Association, Ethiopia: URL
Smith K. R., (1987); Biofuels, air pollution, and health: a global review. New York,
Plenum Press
WHO, (2004), Desai M. A. et al; Indoor smoke from solid fuels: Assessing the
environmental burden of diseaseat national and local levels, World Health Organization
2004, Environmental Burden of Disease Series, No. 4
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