Assessment of Biomass Potential for Bioenergy Production in Mali: Enhancing Energy Security

Abstract

Despite Mali’s abundant biomass resources, its potential for bioenergy production remains untapped, contributing to persistent energy insecurity, heavy reliance on traditional biomass and imported fossil fuels. This study assesses and quantifies available livestock waste, cereal crops residues and municipal solid waste, for biomethane, energy and biohydrogen production, with the aim of enhancing national energy security. Secondary data from the three principal biomass types across nine main regions of Mali, especially Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti, Tombouctou, Gao, Kidal and Bamako were processed and analyzed based on data collected from 2013 to 2018 to estimate the potential for the years 2020, 2025, 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045. Subsequently, bioenergy potentials were quantified using Buswell’s equation for anaerobic digestion and the general biomass gasification equation for thermal conversion. The results showed that the central region, Mopti, has the greatest potential for biomethane, energy and hydrogen production (1134402.9 kt, 2018428376.53 GWh and 226276698.38 Mmol respectively in 2045) through anaerobic digestion, whereas it was Kayes which showed the highest cereal crops potential for hydrogen production through gasification (67.68 Mmol, 291.18 Mmol, 1345.02 Mmol, 6410.05 Mmol, 30999.19 Mmol and 151019.89 Mmol for the years 2020, 2025, 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2045 respectively). Overall, the results highlighted the significant and region-specific potential of biomass resources to support decentralized renewable energy solutions in Mali, particularly through anaerobic digestion and gasification technologies. These findings contribute to the field by providing a data driven foundation for policy development, investment planning, and the promotion of sustainable energy practices tailored to local biomass availability.