ABSTRACT
Biofuels remain a globally important source of energy second only to fossil fuels in their scale of use. Nearly 2 billion people rely almost exclusively on biofuels (wood, charcoal, dung and crop residues) for their energy needs (Tolba and Goodman, 1990). Some statistics are appropriate to better understand the dimensions of fuel-wood use. Biofuels account for 14 per cent of the world’s total energy use; 35 per cent of energy use in developing countries; and an average of 75 per cent of energy use in rural areas of these latter countries (Smith, 1991). In many African countries fuelwood may account for as much as 90 per cent of total energy use.
