Transition towards Jatropha biofuels in Tanzania? : an analysis with strategic niche management

Africa Studies Collection

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J.van Eijck
Leiden: African Studies Centre, African studies collection 3, 2007.

ISBN 978.90.5448.072.3/ISSN 1876-018X

This study analyses the recent emergence of a biofuels sector in Tanzania. The focus is on 'Jatropha curcas', an oil-bearing plant that is widely seen as having great potential as an energy crop throughout the developing world. Using the Strategic Niche Management research method, designed to investigate the introduction of new sustainable technologies, the author examines the status of the process towards Jatropha fuels in Tanzania, and how the process can be improved. Fieldwork was carried out in Tanzania during the period March-June 2005. The results of the study indicate the potential of this new crop in applications such as transport, rural electricity provision, cooking and lighting, but also point to unsolved issues that still need to be addressed. [ASC Leiden abstract]