Biomass Fair 2022

Following the covid-19 pandemic, which halted the event and made large-scale activities worldwide
difficult, the Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG), the Charcoal Association of Namibia (CAoN),
and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), will host a two-day Research symposium
and Industry conference from 7 to 8 September 2022 at the Safari Court Hotel and Conference Centre in
Windhoek. The event is organised in collaboration with the World Bioenergy Association, Bundesverband
Bioenergie e.V. (BBE) and Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project implemented by the Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Associates and Sponsors

The Biomass Fair 2022 received diamond sponsorship from Standard Bank
Namibia, thus accorded the name Standard Bank Biomass Fair 2022, themed ‘’
Discovering a New Decade for Biomass’’.

Over

500

Participants

Over

20

Local and
International
Speakers

WATCH VIDEO

Standard Bank Biomass Fair 2022, A Success!!

(Pictured from left to right) Mr Johnson Ndokosho, Director of Forestry,Mr Colin Lindeque, board member of the Namibian Biomass Industry, Mr Johannes Laufs, Team leader – GIZ Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project, Mr Progress Kashandula, CEO of Namibia Biomass industry Group, Mr Michael Degé , Manager of CAON

Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG), the Namibian Charcoal Association (NCA), and the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST) hosted a two-day Biomass Fair comprising the Research Symposium and Biomass Industry Conference on the 7th- 8th of September 2022 at the Safari Court Hotel and Conference Centre in Windhoek, under the theme “Discovering A New Decade for Biomass”. Coordinated by the Namibian University of Science and Technology

The research symposium was an opportunity for scientists, university students, and entrepreneurs to keep up with the latest scientific research and developments in the biomass industry. The event brought together the biomass academic and research communities. For the sole purpose of discussing the scientific advances, innovations, and solutions in biomass utilisation and bush control with the aim of advancing research and market uptake. It is within this context that Professor Harmony Musiyarira, Associate Dean of Research, Innovation at NUST emphasised the importance of research stating how research allows one to investigate the world from several angles and fosters a different comprehension.

(Pictured From Left to Right) Mr Timoteus Mufeti, Environmental Commissioner – Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism; Mrs Pekeloye Kamenye, Senior Technical Advisor – GIZ Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project; Honourable Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment, Tourism and Forestry; Mrs Ulrike Metzger, Head of Cooperation - Namibian German Embassy; Mr Progress Kashandula, CEO – Namibia Biomass Industry Group, Ms Mercia Geises, CEO – Standard Bank and Mr Johnson Ndokosho, Director of Forestry at the launch ceremony of the National Bush Management Resources Strategy 2022-2027

(Pictured) Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Honourable Pohamba Shifeta.

He continued to say, “The biomass Fair is a key component of the University’s goal of an active and responsive institution serving the needs of stakeholders via exceptional education, applied research, innovation and service” Prof Musiyarira pointed out that, it facilitates the collaboration among university departments, staff, students, and community members to engage learning and teaching experiences. Simultaneously, contributes vast knowledge on the use of Biomass related technologies for environmental preservation and contributes to better agricultural activities. DIVAGRI and STEAMBIO are two of the leading Biomass projects currently at NUST, aimed to propose a wide range of Bio-based innovative solutions adapted to specific conditions in target countries.

Namibia could generate up to N$76 billion over the next 25 years if the 15.8 million hectares of bush encroached land is thinned sustainably. This is the overall target for the restoration of bush ecosystems in the National Strategy on the Sustainable Management of Bush Resources 2022-2027. The strategy is the result of eight years of cooperation between the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism’s Directorate of Forestry and its bilateral project, the Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project implemented by GIZ. “It is critical that our bush control efforts contribute to the achievement of important international commitments on deforestation and afforestation, land degradation and desertification, climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as biological diversity conservation, as outlined in the Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, UNCBD, and UNCCD). He also stated that, despite the COVID pandemic, the biomass sector has continued to grow and has great economic potential as the country recovers from the effects of COVID-19.

(Pictured here) Ms Landuleni Uugulu, Mrs Alvena Berendt, Ms Julian Nakanyala, Ms Aletta Fabian, Ms Loide Namene , Mr Epafras Andreas are part of the implementing partners (N-BiG, NUST and CIZ BCBU)

(Pictured) Presentation by Mr Jerome Boys, Rangeland Science Researcher – Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.

Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project has a strong focus on the implementation of the National Strategy, with three key outputs: providing support to MEFT with the implementation of the National Strategy and mainstreaming within the broader context of the Rio Conventions (biodiversity, climate change, and desertification); establishing a National Dialogue Platform to address bottlenecks in the biomass sector; and developing inclusive and innovative business models around carbon credits, linking bush utilisation to climate change mitigation. In closing, Honourable Shifeta commended the Namibia Biomass Industry Group, the Charcoal Association of Namibia, the Namibia University of Science and Technology, and various partners, especially the Federal Republic of Germany, for financial support through the Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project to develop the national strategy and continued cooperation for other support

measures in the country. Since 2018, the Namibia Biomass Industry Group and its partners have hosted the Biomass Fair to showcase the flourishing bush biomass sector in Namibia and the region at large. “For us this is critical if it is done sustainably and based on the application of science and value addition, to ensure that such processes benefit our local communities,” the Minister said. This provides an excellent opportunity for networking and sharing expertise and best practices on bush control and biomass utilisation. The Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project have been instrumental in co-financing this important networking event for the sector.

The fair was attended by more than 500 people, including high-level international and regional speakers and dignitaries such as Dr Thomas Kirsch, Country Director of GIZ Namibia, Dr Erold Naomab, Vice Chancellor of Namibia University of Science and Technology, Mr Timoteus Mufeti, Environmental Commissioner of Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and Ms Mercia Geises, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Bank Namibia. This year’s theme, “Discovering a New Decade for Biomass”, corresponds with the United Nations General Assembly’s designation of 2021 to 2030 as the decade of ecosystem restoration.