Council Continues Exploring Ethanol Market in Ghana, Nigeria

Recently, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Ramy Taieb, USGBC Manager of Global Ethanol Programs Joana Hassan and USGBC MEA Regional Ethanol Consultant Gbenga Apampa traveled to Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana to meet regional energy and transportation sector leaders about ethanol's potential as a fuel source.

"Allowing an E10 policy on a national and commercially scaled level would likely incentivize investment in Nigeria and Ghana's domestic ethanol industry and would also generate an estimated 500 million gallons of ethanol demand, the majority of which would be imported, and potentially increasing U.S. agricultural trade with West Africa," Taieb said.

In Lagos, Apampa met with a pair of oil and gas sector stakeholders related with the imminent startup of the E10 pilot test in Nigeria and toured participating Lagos retail fuel stations to review preparation and readiness, demonstrating the Council's ongoing support for implementation of biofuel mandates.

Later, in Accra, the delegation met with public and private sector counterparts, including the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), the Ministry of Energy & Green Transition, the Energy Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to discuss Ghana's energy priorities and the potential role of ethanol as the country considers pathways toward more sustainable fuels.

Other meetings included stakeholders working in adjacent ethanol spaces like clean cooking, that can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create expanded demand for U.S. ethanol.

"By engaging directly with policymakers, fuel marketers and emerging industry stakeholders, the Council is better understanding local market needs and identifying where ethanol could play a role in the region's evolving energy landscape," Hassan said.

"We'll continue working with partners in the region to advance these opportunities and support the development of ethanol markets in Ghana and Nigeria to lay the groundwork for future trade opportunities and expanded demand for U.S. ethanol."

Learn more about the Council's work in Africa on the organization's website.