Value chain for syngas production by cotton stems gasification in Burkina Faso

The increasing consumption of fossil fuels has enhanced the challenges of economic and energy security while contributing to global climate change. Gasification is one of the interesting energy alternatives to convert agricultural waste to energy and reduce the country's energy dependence. Cotton stalks are abundant residues in Burkina Faso, with an interesting energy content for energy production by gasification. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the entire syngas production chain from the cotton fields to the gasification plant using a value chain analysis approach. Given the lack of an operational gasification energy production value chain in Burkina Faso, the analyses were carried out based on simulations and hypotheses using local knowledge, supplemented by individual interviews with transporters and traders of agricultural products, operators who have already used the technology, and reports from gasification projects. The data was analyzed through an assessment of the opportunity cost of biomass. The analysis shows that the key upstream activities of the production chain are the transport of biomass and pre-treatment, but mostly the buying of biomass. The latter requires a significant cost price, i.e. a proportion of over 70% of the global cost price. Future operators could then focus on biomass processing, and establish partnerships with structures that support the mobilization of cotton stalks in finding a way to interest producers.