1

Charcoal production and use: world country statistics and

global trendsAdrián Ghilardi (National University of Mexico)

& Florian Steierer (Head of FAO wood energy)

Symposium:The role of charcoal in climate change and poverty alleviation initiatives.

15th June 2011Arusha, Tanzania

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Structure of presentation1. The importance of a trustworthy worldwide

database on charcoal production and use.

2. Available global and country-based figures from FAO.

3. Examples of some flaws and gaps in FAO wood energy data.

4. The way ahead.

• Wrong data leads to misleading actions (i.e. essential ingredient for policy making)

• Challenge:– Disperse nature of traditional woodfuels in general

(i.e. difficulties in primary data gathering)– Methodologies

• How much vs. where (where is it used and where the wood comes from)

3

Why a trustworthy database?

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Available global figuresBiofuel consumption in 2007

by product and by sector of use

World Total(PJ)

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Prim

ary

solid

biom

ass

Cha

rcoa

l

Bio

gas

Bio

gaso

line

Bio

dies

els

Oth

er li

quid

biof

uels

EJ

Residential

Transformation sector

Industry sector

Transport sector

5

6

Trend by regionsWood Charcoal Production (tonnes)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

million

Africa

Latin America &Caribbean

Europe

NorthernAmerica

Oceania

Asia

Source FAOstat

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Top ten countriesWood Charcoal Production (tonnes)

Others, 65%

China, 4%Tanzania, 

3%Ghana, 3%Egypt, 3%

Brazil, 11%

Nigeria, 8%

Ethiopia, 8%

Dem. Rep. Congo, 4%

Mozambique, 4%

India, 4%

Source FAOstat

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Share of wood fuel converted to charcoal

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%19

65

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

Africa

Latin America &Caribbean

World

NorthernAmerica

Asia

Europe

Oceania

Source FAOstat

0.00.20.40.60.81.01.21.4

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

mill

ion

t

IEA Prim.Solid biom.

FAO WoodFuel

WISDOMresult

9

Some mismatches between data sources

Slovenia woodfuel statistics – Production of woodfuels (ref. FAO) and consumption of Primary Solid Biomass (ref. IEA)

Now not talking about charcoal

(consumption)

(production)

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Some mismatches between data sources

Italy woodfuel statistics – Production of woodfuels (ref. FAO) and consumption of Primary Solid Biomass (ref. IEA)

0.0

4.0

8.0

12.0

16.0

20.0

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

mill

ion

t

IEA Prim.Solid biom.

FAO WoodFuel

WISDOMresult

UNECE/FAO Joint Wood Energy Enquiry 2009 (consumption)UNECE/FAO European Forest Sector Outlook Study (consumption)

(consumption)

(production)

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Some mismatches between data sources

France woodfuel statistics – Production of woodfuels (ref. FAO) and consumption of Primary Solid Biomass (ref. IEA)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

mill

ion

t IEA Prim.Solid biom.

FAO WoodFuel

FAO revised after 2005

before 2005 revision

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Brasil ASK ALEX FOR FIGURE

Some mismatches between data sources: Brazil

Charcoal use in Mexico: 1990-2024

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Production in 2009 Share (%) % change(million metric tonnes) 2004 2009 2004‐2009 2008‐2009

Africa 29.4 52 63 29.8 5.9Asia 7.4 16 16 10.2 ‐1.4Europe 0.5 1 1 5.4 ‐1.4Latin America & Caribbean 8.8 29 19 ‐29.3 ‐27.4Northern America 0.9 2 2 ‐0.7 0.8Oceania 0.0 0 0 4.1 1.8WORLD 47.0 100 100 8.9 ‐3.6

FAOstat Mexico

FAOstat Brazil : 5 Mt

FAOstat Zambia: 0.5 Mt

FAOstat Tanzania: 1.5 Mt

14

t yr-1

15

16

17

2000

2020

2010

2024

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The A way aheadFAO wood energy is taking the lead in:

Raising awareness of the importance of Collecting, Improving and Sharing accurate data on wood energy

Formulating, implementing and monitoring of sound wood energy policies

Facilitating cross-sectoral communication and collaboration

Applying sustainable and resource efficient production and consumption

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Contact:

Adrián Ghilardi: aghilardi@ciga.unam.mx

Florian Steierer: Florian.Steierer@fao.org

Thanks for your attention