To further promote ethanol’s position in the global energy transition, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Director of Global Ethanol Export Development Alicia Koch traveled to Kampala, Uganda to attend the 12th Global Bioenergy Partnership’s (GBEP’s) Bioenergy Week earlier this month.
The event is hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development of the Government of Uganda and organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It is conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the African Energy Commission of the African Union (AFREC), and the Council is an event sponsor.
“The Council’s support of Bioenergy Week highlights the organization’s commitment to renewable energy in Africa and beyond, providing a global platform to discuss ethanol’s positive impact on human health and the environment,” Koch said.
The goal of GBEP Bioenergy Week is to bring together bioenergy stakeholders, including international experts, decision makers and private sector representatives to discuss current trends, future opportunities and challenges in bioenergy with a particular focus on Africa during this year’s edition.
Koch was joined by USGC Regional Ethanol Consultant for Africa and the Middle East Gbenga Apampa and the duo attended multiple meetings outside of the conference to make further inroads into the African energy sector and understand the region’s ambitions around biofuels.
A meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Uganda William Popp laid the foundation for the program, covering regional market dynamics and opportunities for future collaboration, and discussions with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the National Agricultural Research Organization informed the Council’s delegation about energy needs and trends in Uganda.
Other key topics during the convention included clean cooking, an initiative the Council strongly supports through investments and programming, regional and continental rollout strategies for the energy transition in Africa and more.
“Bioenergy Week was really dynamic with a lot of excitement around the potential for Africa to contribute substantially to the clean energy transition,” Koch said.
“Seeing Uganda lead the way for ethanol blending in the region is inspiring – we are eager to support ethanol expansion to effectively meet climate and health objectives for the continent.”
Button: Learn more about the Council’s work in Africa here.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.