[ Possibilité d'utilisation du biocarburant au Cameroun : cas du biodiesel à partir de l'huile de palme dans la zone du Moungo ]
Volume 15, Issue 2, June 2015, Pages 457–467
Guillaume Hensel Fongang Fouepe1, Doris MANEFANG2, Ajaga NJI3, Denis Pompidou FOLEFACK4, and Michel TAKAM5
1 Department of Rural Socio-Economics and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon
2 Département de Vulgarisation Agricole et Sociologie Rurale, Université de Dschang, Faculté d'Agronomie et de Sciences Agricoles, Dschang, Cameroun
3 Département de Vulgarisation Agricole et Sociologie Rurale, Université de Dschang, Faculté d'Agronomie et de Sciences Agricoles, Dschang, Cameroun
4 Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, B.P. 33 Maroua, Cameroun
5 Secrétariat Exécutif, Action pour un Développement Equitable, Intégré et Durable, Bafoussam, Cameroun
Original language: French
Copyright © 2015 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Due to gradual exhaustion of mineral oil reserves and the problems of climate change, studying the possibilities that can be offered by biofuel in improving agriculture, can constitute a useful solution. Therefore, this article falls within the framework of technologies transfer with the purpose of exploring the different possibilities by which red palm oil can substitute diesel oil as a source of energy.
Indeed, in the Moungo region of Cameroon, many palm oil extraction units are still processing palm nuts using diesel oil as a main source of energy. On the basis of the socioeconomic study held in the Moungo region of Cameroon, these palm oil extraction units are categorised according to different source of energy that is petrol, diesel oil, electricity and human energy. The mains processes through which palm nuts are being processed are described. These processes do not vary according to the sources of energy used and considering the different step involved in the process, the pressurization can be done using either manual press or motorized press. The analysis of the possibilities by which palm oil can substitute diesel oil as source of energy through comparison of cost of production according to the source of energy shows that all the extraction processes are efficient. However, expenses related to the supply of energy vary not only with the type but also with the quantity of source energy required by these presses
In term of ranking, we found that the cheapest one is electricity followed by diesel oil, petrol and human energy in that last order. Substitution of diesel oil with palm oil is cheaper for presses consuming 0.5 litre of diesel oil per ton of palm nut processed while with a press requiring 1 or 1.5 litres of diesel oil per ton of palm nut, electricity represents the most efficient energy source followed by palm oil, diesel, petrol and human energy. Palm oil as a source of energy is therefore shown to be the most efficient followed by diesel oil, petrol and human energy in none electrified areas of palm oil production.
In conclusion, our experiment suggests that it is possible to use palm oil as fuel in diesel engines. However, these engines should previously be adapted in order to avoid possible technical breakdowns. Beyond considerations of technological and economic feasibility, this study thus highlights the risk of competition between food use and energy conversation of some agricultural products, which could contribute to jeopardize food security in many contexts.
Author Keywords: Biofuel, biodiesel, palm oil, diesel, oil extraction, Mungo, Cameroon.
Volume 15, Issue 2, June 2015, Pages 457–467
Guillaume Hensel Fongang Fouepe1, Doris MANEFANG2, Ajaga NJI3, Denis Pompidou FOLEFACK4, and Michel TAKAM5
1 Department of Rural Socio-Economics and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon
2 Département de Vulgarisation Agricole et Sociologie Rurale, Université de Dschang, Faculté d'Agronomie et de Sciences Agricoles, Dschang, Cameroun
3 Département de Vulgarisation Agricole et Sociologie Rurale, Université de Dschang, Faculté d'Agronomie et de Sciences Agricoles, Dschang, Cameroun
4 Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, B.P. 33 Maroua, Cameroun
5 Secrétariat Exécutif, Action pour un Développement Equitable, Intégré et Durable, Bafoussam, Cameroun
Original language: French
Copyright © 2015 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Due to gradual exhaustion of mineral oil reserves and the problems of climate change, studying the possibilities that can be offered by biofuel in improving agriculture, can constitute a useful solution. Therefore, this article falls within the framework of technologies transfer with the purpose of exploring the different possibilities by which red palm oil can substitute diesel oil as a source of energy.
Indeed, in the Moungo region of Cameroon, many palm oil extraction units are still processing palm nuts using diesel oil as a main source of energy. On the basis of the socioeconomic study held in the Moungo region of Cameroon, these palm oil extraction units are categorised according to different source of energy that is petrol, diesel oil, electricity and human energy. The mains processes through which palm nuts are being processed are described. These processes do not vary according to the sources of energy used and considering the different step involved in the process, the pressurization can be done using either manual press or motorized press. The analysis of the possibilities by which palm oil can substitute diesel oil as source of energy through comparison of cost of production according to the source of energy shows that all the extraction processes are efficient. However, expenses related to the supply of energy vary not only with the type but also with the quantity of source energy required by these presses
In term of ranking, we found that the cheapest one is electricity followed by diesel oil, petrol and human energy in that last order. Substitution of diesel oil with palm oil is cheaper for presses consuming 0.5 litre of diesel oil per ton of palm nut processed while with a press requiring 1 or 1.5 litres of diesel oil per ton of palm nut, electricity represents the most efficient energy source followed by palm oil, diesel, petrol and human energy. Palm oil as a source of energy is therefore shown to be the most efficient followed by diesel oil, petrol and human energy in none electrified areas of palm oil production.
In conclusion, our experiment suggests that it is possible to use palm oil as fuel in diesel engines. However, these engines should previously be adapted in order to avoid possible technical breakdowns. Beyond considerations of technological and economic feasibility, this study thus highlights the risk of competition between food use and energy conversation of some agricultural products, which could contribute to jeopardize food security in many contexts.
Author Keywords: Biofuel, biodiesel, palm oil, diesel, oil extraction, Mungo, Cameroon.
Abstract: (french)
Cet article s'inscrit dans le cadre du transfert de technologie et porte sur une analyse des possibilités d'utiliser l'huile de palme rouge comme substitut énergétique au gasoil. En effet, dans la zone du Moungo au Cameroun, il se développe des petites unités d'extraction d'huile de palme utilisant le gasoil comme principale source d'énergie. Une typologie des unités d'extraction de l'huile de palme de la zone en fonction des sources d'énergies utilisées est réalisée. Nous décrivons ensuite les principaux procédés d'extraction d'huile utilisés dans la zone et montrons qu'ils ne varient pas en fonction des sources d'énergie et que l'étape de pressurage peut se dérouler soit avec des pressoirs manuels ou avec des pressoirs motorisés. Nous constatons que l'analyse des possibilités de substitution du gasoil par l'huile de palme à travers une comparaison des coûts de production en fonction des sources d'énergie montre que tous les types de pressurages sont efficaces, mais les dépenses liées à l'approvisionnement en sources d'énergie varient en fonction des types et des quantités de sources d'énergie requises par ces pressoirs. Ces dépenses sont relativement moindres avec l'électricité, suivie du gasoil, de l'essence et de l'énergie humaine en dernière position. L'huile de palme comme substitut énergétique au gasoil représente l'alternative énergétique la plus économique uniquement pour les pressoirs utilisant 0.5litre de gasoil par tonne de noix de palme tandis qu'avec les pressoirs utilisant 1 ou 1.5 litres de gasoil par tonne de noix de palme, l'électricité se présente comme la source d'énergie la plus efficiente. L'huile de palme serait ainsi la source la plus appropriée surtout dans les zones ne disposant pas de d'énergie électrique. Toutefois, il convient au préalable d'adapter les machines devant consommer l'huile de palme comme carburant pour éviter des éventuelles pannes techniques. Au-delà des considérations de faisabilité technologique et économique, cette étude met ainsi en lumière le risque de concurrence entre un usage alimentaire et une conversation en énergie de certaines productions agricoles, ce qui pourrait voir ce dernier usage contribuer à hypothéquer la sécurité alimentaire dans bien de contextes.
Author Keywords: Biocarburant, biodiesel, huile de palme, gasoil, extraction de l'huile, Moungo, Cameroun.
How to Cite this Article
Guillaume Hensel Fongang Fouepe, Doris MANEFANG, Ajaga NJI, Denis Pompidou FOLEFACK, and Michel TAKAM, “Possibility of use of biofuel in Cameroon: the case of biodiesel from palm oil in the Moungo,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 457–467, June 2015.
