THE Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-Big), the Charcoal Association of Namibia, and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), will host a two-day biomass fair in Windhoek on 7 and 8 September.
According to a statement issued by N-Big, the event is being 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.
The fair is being sponsored by Standard Bank Namibia and will be held under the theme ‘Discovering a New Decade for Biomass’.
Progress Kashandula, the chief executive officer of N-Big, describes the Standard Bank Biomass Fair 2022 as an event aimed at updating biomass stakeholders and the public at large on positive sector developments, particularly after a two-year hiatus due the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The bush biomass sector has the potential to contribute to socio-economic development and an inclusive bio-economy for Namibia,” he says.
According to the organisers, the two-day event will be held in a hybrid format, with video-streamed presentations and interactive panel discussions following each session.
The fair will kick off with a symposium on 7 September, bringing together the biomass academic and research communities to discuss the scientific advances, innovations, and solutions in biomass utilisation and bush control with the aim of advancing research and market uptake.
“It is an opportunity for scientists, university students, and entrepreneurs to keep up to date with the latest scientific research and developments. This symposium is coordinated by the Namibian University of Science and Technology,” the N-Big statement says.
The second day will focus on developments related to environmental issues, legal and regulatory frameworks, biomass value chains, market and finance, access, technology transfer, and certification services.
The conference will feature more than 15 high-level local and international speakers on trends, opportunities, and other biomass-related topics.
With the support of the Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation Project implemented by GIZ, the minister of environment, forestry and tourism is expected to launch the National Strategy for the Sustainable Management of Bush Resources in Namibia (2022 to 2027) at the conference.
Standard Bank spokesperson Magreth Mengo says investing in platforms such as the biomass fair contributes immensely to the bank’s purpose.
“We are currently investigating and financing many domains of clean renewable energy, and have high expectations for the future of these resources, including biomass.
“The collaboration with the biomass fair organisers helps us to educate people on the possibilities that lies in this infant industry,” she says.
The biomass fair is an annual event to showcase the flourishing bush biomass sector in Namibia and the region at large.
According to N-Big, the fair will provide an excellent opportunity for networking and exchanging knowledge and best practices on bush control and biomass utilisation.
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