Exploring the Potential for Biomass Energy Generation Derived from Agricultural Wastes in the Central African Republic

4th International Conference on Research of Agricultural and Food Technologies, Toskent, Özbekistan, 11 - 13 Eylül 2024, ss.267-273

This study investigates the biomass energy potential derived from

agricultural residues in the Central African Republic (CAR). The CAR's agricultural sector

predominantly cultivates crops such as cassava, maize, millet, sorghum, and yams, with

additional focus on oil palm and sugarcane. The biomass energy potential hinges on

factors including crop yield, residue generation during harvesting and processing,

infrastructure and technology for biomass conversion, and policy frameworks supporting

sustainable energy development. The quantity of agricultural residues produced by yearly

crops in Central African Republic, expressed in tons of dry material annually, was assessed

using agricultural production figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization

Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) in 2021. The yearly overall potential of agricultural

residues was computed using the residue-to-product ratio (RPR). The total quantity of

agricultural residues, including those from annual crops such as maize (corn), millet,

potatoes, rice, and sorghum, was estimated to be approximately 1.2 kilo tons in the Central

African Republic. The major crops contributing to the total residue amount are maize

(54.29%), Sorghum (27.67%), rice (12.71%) and millet (1.46%). The total energy

potential of agricultural residues was estimated at around 19.7 terajoules (TJ) for the 2021

production period in Central African Republic.