Sustainable Energy
Background
“Access to sustainable energy, a positive environmental instrument for socio-economic development”
Over the years, thermal energy has become the primary source of power production in the country. Heavily dependent on oil imports and handicapped by decaying infrastructure, the electricity power supply is nowadays inadequate and expensive; it is a hindrance to the development of communities and the economy, and a factor of social crisis. In addition, oil is the sole fuel for transportation to date. As for wood, it provides 80% of the population’s energy needs for cooking; due to lack of sustainable management, forest resources are becoming scarcer leading to dramatic ecological imbalance, particularly in the Ala Maiky eco-region.
The current energy crisis springs from these longstanding choices and practices. Changes towards development and sustainable management of existing natural resources (biomass, wind, solar, water) are required for the country’s energy independence and its sustainable socio-economic development. They must be undertaken in the world context of combating global warming.
WWF MWIOPO has therefore taken a position of promoting such changes, and has developed its Energy strategy in this direction for the period 2006 - 2012.
The current energy crisis springs from these longstanding choices and practices. Changes towards development and sustainable management of existing natural resources (biomass, wind, solar, water) are required for the country’s energy independence and its sustainable socio-economic development. They must be undertaken in the world context of combating global warming.
WWF MWIOPO has therefore taken a position of promoting such changes, and has developed its Energy strategy in this direction for the period 2006 - 2012.
Millions of rural people rely on resources extracted from the woodlands, including fuelwood, charcoal, timber, thatching grass, medicines, fruits and honey.
Local population
Objectives and description
The Energy Program has the objective of helping reduce environmental degradation by supporting the population’s access to sustainable energy services. It also aims at improving the country’s energy situation which must take into account domestic and global environmental stakes.
The Energy Program includes three strategic lines:
1. Meeting the population’s domestic energy needs while preserving natural forests. Activities are focused on the Ala Maiky eco-region, for sustainable management of the wood energy production chain for supplying the town of Toliara in the Atsimo Andrefana region.
2. Rely on electrification by renewable energy to improve the living conditions of basic communities and develop ecotourism. This line relates to the future protected area of Nosy Hara in the Marine eco-region, as well as the Ala Maiky eco-region.
3. Support development of the Energy sector so that environmental aspects are taken into account. The promotion of sustainable development of biomass fuels in Madagascar is one of the main activities. Awareness-raising, information and encouraging the adoption of energy-saving practices are also among the objectives.
1. Meeting the population’s domestic energy needs while preserving natural forests. Activities are focused on the Ala Maiky eco-region, for sustainable management of the wood energy production chain for supplying the town of Toliara in the Atsimo Andrefana region.
2. Rely on electrification by renewable energy to improve the living conditions of basic communities and develop ecotourism. This line relates to the future protected area of Nosy Hara in the Marine eco-region, as well as the Ala Maiky eco-region.
3. Support development of the Energy sector so that environmental aspects are taken into account. The promotion of sustainable development of biomass fuels in Madagascar is one of the main activities. Awareness-raising, information and encouraging the adoption of energy-saving practices are also among the objectives.
Project Data
- Started: July 2008
- Planned end date:
- Executant: Voahirana Randriambola
- Managing Office: WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office
- Address: WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office - B.P. 738 - Antananarivo 101 - Madagascar +261 20 22 348 85
- Status:
Contact
-
Voahirana Randriambola
Footprint Programme Coordinator
WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office,
Antananarivo+261 20 2240284
Achievements - Impacts (June 2007 - November 2009)
The project “Energy-Environment Synergy in the South West of Madagascar (SEESO)” financed by the European Union started on February 1st, 2008 and will end in February 2011.
The component managed by WWF (MG927) aims to introduce sustainable management of the Wood Energy production chain in the Atsimo Andrefana region, and will contribute to the introduction of sustainable wood energy management.
The project “Sustainable Energy to aid conservation of biodiversity in the Nosy Hara Archipelago (Energy NSH - MG928)” started on July 1st, 2008 in technical and financial partnership with the French Environment and Energy Control Agency (ADEME). The project aims at electrification, through renewable energy sources, of the villages of Ampasindava and Mangoaka belonging to the protection zone of the marine protected area, as well as the promotion of energy saving and renewable energies to tourist operators.
In the framework of the first phase of the project which will end on march 2010, a feasibility study regarding electrification by renewable energy and supply of water for local people has been conducted; funds are now going to be raised for, at the same time, micro hydroelectricity infrastructures, water supply and development of sustainable tourism as well as local economic activities. Also, sensitization and information of owners of tourist infrastructures in the north region has begun, for them to integrate saving energy and renewable energy in their investments; due to energy difficulties, first steps have already met great interest from those stakeholders.
The project “Rural electrifi ation through renewable energies in the south of Madagascar (RESOUTH)” financed by the European Union and implemented in partnership with the Energies for the World Foundation is now carried out by the Ala Maiky Program team. The component managed by WWF (MG930) aim at developing electricity from renewable sources by village communities for their development, as accompanying measures for biodiversity conservation activities. It has started in 2008, for five years.
The project entitled “Promotion of a sustainable production of Biofuels in Madagascar (MG937)”, has been developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, taking into account the international context and the local realities. This project wants to be proactive for a real consideration of the conditions of sustainability in the development of biofuel in the country. It started in August 2009 and will end in December 2011. It comprises three main components: implementation of a Sustainable Biofuel National Platform, collaboration with the ONE (National Office of Environment) for the promotion of a Guideline for Environmental and Social Impacts Studies for biofuel investments, networking national civil society as watchdog for the sector and in order to defend more efficiently the needs for sustainability of the biofuel investments.
The project “Efficient electric lighting in Madagascar as part of the Smart Energy Network Initiative” is conducted in partnership with WWF Switzerland. The project is in its early stage, as the evaluation of the feasibility of a promotion project of low energy consumption lamps in main towns of Madagascar is on way. The general objectives are to reduce green house gas emissions by increasing consumption of electricity from thermal sources in Madagascar, to contribute to the fight against poverty by reducing Malagasy household electricity expenditure, and to reduce the gap between production and demand in electricity.
The effective implementation of all those projects is the main challenge.
The project “Sustainable Energy to aid conservation of biodiversity in the Nosy Hara Archipelago (Energy NSH - MG928)” started on July 1st, 2008 in technical and financial partnership with the French Environment and Energy Control Agency (ADEME). The project aims at electrification, through renewable energy sources, of the villages of Ampasindava and Mangoaka belonging to the protection zone of the marine protected area, as well as the promotion of energy saving and renewable energies to tourist operators.
In the framework of the first phase of the project which will end on march 2010, a feasibility study regarding electrification by renewable energy and supply of water for local people has been conducted; funds are now going to be raised for, at the same time, micro hydroelectricity infrastructures, water supply and development of sustainable tourism as well as local economic activities. Also, sensitization and information of owners of tourist infrastructures in the north region has begun, for them to integrate saving energy and renewable energy in their investments; due to energy difficulties, first steps have already met great interest from those stakeholders.
The project “Rural electrifi ation through renewable energies in the south of Madagascar (RESOUTH)” financed by the European Union and implemented in partnership with the Energies for the World Foundation is now carried out by the Ala Maiky Program team. The component managed by WWF (MG930) aim at developing electricity from renewable sources by village communities for their development, as accompanying measures for biodiversity conservation activities. It has started in 2008, for five years.
The project entitled “Promotion of a sustainable production of Biofuels in Madagascar (MG937)”, has been developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, taking into account the international context and the local realities. This project wants to be proactive for a real consideration of the conditions of sustainability in the development of biofuel in the country. It started in August 2009 and will end in December 2011. It comprises three main components: implementation of a Sustainable Biofuel National Platform, collaboration with the ONE (National Office of Environment) for the promotion of a Guideline for Environmental and Social Impacts Studies for biofuel investments, networking national civil society as watchdog for the sector and in order to defend more efficiently the needs for sustainability of the biofuel investments.
The project “Efficient electric lighting in Madagascar as part of the Smart Energy Network Initiative” is conducted in partnership with WWF Switzerland. The project is in its early stage, as the evaluation of the feasibility of a promotion project of low energy consumption lamps in main towns of Madagascar is on way. The general objectives are to reduce green house gas emissions by increasing consumption of electricity from thermal sources in Madagascar, to contribute to the fight against poverty by reducing Malagasy household electricity expenditure, and to reduce the gap between production and demand in electricity.
The effective implementation of all those projects is the main challenge.
Nosy Hara mission
Mangrove