Luanda - The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino de Azevedo, on Friday in Luanda, pointed to the production of biofuels as a solution to mitigate the effect of fossil fuels in the country.
The minister said it is a sustainable alternative in reducing greenhouse gases, as well as promoting economic development.
The focus of the strategy is the creation of a robust biofuels market, with the emergence of social and political movements for the energy transition, he said during a public consultation session on Angola's Strategic Biofuels Proposal 2025-2050.
Biofuels are fuels produced through biomass, derived from raw materials such as soybeans, sunflowers, corn, animal and vegetable fat.
According to the minister, the subject began to be addressed in 2009, however, it was only in 2023, after a study by the National Biofuels Agency, that a study group was created for this purpose.
In this sense, he defended the alignment of industry objectives and procedures for a fair and inclusive energy transition, with greater attractiveness for private investment.
'The energy transition has become a global priority and Angola cannot be oblivious to this reality,' he said.
Angola's Biofuel Strategy aims to diversify the economy, energy transition, reduce the greenhouse effect, as well as reduce dependence on fossil fuels and encourage the use of renewable energy.
It is in line with the National Development Plan 2023-2027 and the Angola 2050 Long-Term Strategy.
For Diamantino de Azevedo, the creation of the National Agency of Oil, Gas and Biofuels, in 2019, allowed a new approach to this matter in the country.
For his part, ANPG engineer Alfredo Napoleão said that in the initial phase, first and second-generation biofuels, such as biodiesel and solid waste, will be produced in order to become a leader in Africa for export.
He presented as his main challenge the creation of favorable legislation or adjusted to reality, to encourage investment and infrastructure, referring.
The Angolan Government has made a commitment to international protocols and conventions related to environmental issues, namely those of Kyoto and Paris, which aim to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
ML/VC/DOJ
