U.S. ethanol producers are making their case in West Africa, where two countries could soon create major new markets for American agricultural products.
Officials from the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council traveled to Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana in recent weeks to meet with energy and transportation leaders about using ethanol as a fuel source.
The potential payoff is significant. According to USGBC Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa Ramy Taieb, a national E10 policy in both countries would likely spur investment in domestic ethanol industries and generate about 500 million gallons of ethanol demand. Most of that would need to be imported.
“This would potentially increase U.S. agricultural trade with West Africa,” Taieb said.
In Lagos, USGBC MEA Regional Ethanol Consultant Gbenga Apampa met with oil and gas industry representatives ahead of Nigeria’s E10 pilot test launch. He also toured participating retail fuel stations to check their readiness.
The delegation then traveled to Accra, where they met with the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, the Ministry of Energy & Green Transition, the Energy Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Discussions focused on Ghana’s energy priorities and how ethanol could fit into the country’s sustainable fuel plans.
USGBC Manager of Global Ethanol Programs Joana Hassan said the meetings help the council understand local market needs and find opportunities for U.S. ethanol in the region’s changing energy sector.
