Several African countries have now mandated ethanol blending policies as the continent invests in new industrial applications for locally produced grains such as maize, wheat, rice, and soy.

Expanding Ethanol Crops

In some nations, land dedicated to non-food energy crops is growing faster than that for cereals used in human and animal consumption. This shift aims to curb carbon emissions but intensifies pressure on feedstock supplies.

National Regulations

  • Nigeria has approved blending gasoline with 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% ethanol. The country produces just 6% of its ethanol needs and imports an estimated 300–350 million liters annually.

  • Ghana targets a 20% biofuel share in its transport fuel mix by 2030, per government energy policy.

  • Malawi’s Ethanol Driven Vehicle Project, launched in 2006, mandates E10 blending. “Using ethanol can significantly reduce foreign exchange demand, stabilize fuel prices, lower maintenance costs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions,” says Gift Kadzamira, Director General of the Malawi Commission for Science and Technology.

  • Mozambique adopted its National Biofuels Policy and Strategy in 2009 to link energy and food security.

East Africa’s Green Freight Strategy

Six East African Community members are implementing the Green Freight Strategy 2030, preparing for electric vehicles and an emission-free transport corridor by 2050. Goals include a 10% improvement in freight fuel efficiency and a 10–12% reduction in harmful emissions by 2030.

Uganda’s Ethanol Blend Program

Since July 1, 2024, Uganda mandates a 1% ethanol blend in petrol, increasing toward 20% based on biofuel availability, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Feedstocks include sugarcane, cassava, sorghum, and maize.

Balancing Energy and Food Security

Some countries restrict grain use for biofuels due to food security concerns:

  • South Africa has limited crop-based ethanol production. The 2024–25 maize crop was 16 million tonnes, with domestic demand at 12.4 million tonnes .

  • “The surge in maize and other bioenergy crops for ethanol poses serious challenges to Africa’s feed industry,” warns Prof. Kola Adebayo of Nigeria’s Federal University of Agriculture.

Despite these limits, AlcoNCP recently commissioned Africa’s largest maize ethanol plant, shifting from molasses to maize feedstock. Supported by the U.S. Grains Council, Africa’s ethanol market is expanding, though the Africa Centre for Energy Policy stresses the need for deliberate policies to balance land use between food and energy crops.