ABSTRACT
The energy problems facing the Third World are daunting. As have seen, they retard development and threaten the survival of many of the world’s poor. Such problems present formidable challenges to governments, international agencies and individuals who are concerned with and responsible for energy planning. Substitution possibilities are more widespread and have received considerable attention. As far as commercial fuels are concerned, the main possibilities appear to be replacing imported fossil fuels with indigenous fossil fuels nuclear power and new and renewable sources of energy such as solar power, wind power and novel forms of biomass fuels. Rural energy planning in the Third World is essentially concerned with sustaining production and consumption of biomass fuels. Biomass fuels are locally produced but are rarely specifically for fuel use. These fuels are usually either a residue from other productive activities or gathered from natural woodland areas where resources are exploited, but no direct production occurs.
