Assessment of Biomass 

Resources in Liberia 

Prepared for the U.S. Agency for International 

Development (USAID) under the Liberia Energy 

Assistance Program (LEAP) 

Anelia Milbrandt 

Technical Report 

NREL/TP-6A2-44808 

April 2009 
 

 

Assessment of Biomass Technical Report 

NREL/TP-6A2-44808 Resources in Liberia April 2009 

Prepared for the U.S. Agency for International 

Development (USAID) under the Liberia Energy 

Assistance Program (LEAP) 

Anelia Milbrandt 

Prepared under Task No. WTD3.1000 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 

303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov 

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy 

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC 

Contract No. DE-AC36-08-GO28308 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE 

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Acknowledgments 

The author would like to thank the International Resources Group (IRG) staff for managing this 

project on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development USAID, and particularly Mr. 

Simba Mangwengwende, the project overseer, for his review and feedback. Thanks to Dr. Ralph 

Overend, retired NREL Research Fellow, for his review and valuable recommendations. 

A special thanks to Kristin Stroup from the Energy and Security Group (ESG) for her invaluable 

contributions in the data gathering process. 

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

DFID – United Kingdom Department for International Development 

EPA – Environmental Protection Agency 

FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization 

FAOSTAT - The FAO Statistical Database 

FDA – Forestry Development Authority 

GDP – Gross domestic product 

GIS – Geographic information system 

GHG – Greenhouse gas 

LHV – Low heating value 

MOA – Liberia’s Ministry of Agriculture 

MSW - Municipal solid waste 

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme 

UNEP – United Nations Environmental Programme 

UNICEF - The United Nations Children's Fund 

Units of Measure 

dam3 – cubic decameter or 1,000 m3 or 106 L, described in some sources as a ML (Megaliter)
 

GWh – Gigawatt hour (109 Wh)
 

ha – hectare
 

hm3 – cubic hectometer or 1,000,000 m3 or 109 L, described in some sources as a GL (Gigaliter)
 

kg - kilogram
 

kWh – kilowatt hour (103 Wh)
 

L – liter (decimeter or dm3

) 

m3 – cubic meter
 

Mt – Megatonne (106 tonnes)
 

MWh – Megawatt hour (106 Wh)
 

TJ – Terajoule (1012 J) 

Tonne - metric ton
 

Glossary of Plant Names

African walnut (Lovoa klaineana)
 

Banana (Musa sp.)
 

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) 

Cassava (Manihot esculenta)
 

Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)
 

Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta)
 

Coffee (Rubiaceae family) 

Jatropha (Jatropha Curcas)
 

Kola tree (Malvaceae sp.)
 

Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni)
 

Maize (Zea mays) 

Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis)
 

Pineapple (Ananas comosus)
 

Plantain (Musa sp.)
 

Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
 

Sugarcane (Poaceae sp.)
 

Yam (Dioscorea sp.)
 

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Executive Summary 

Biomass resources meet about 99.5% of the Liberian population’s energy needs so they are 

vital to basic welfare and economic activity. Already, traditional biomass products like firewood 

and charcoal are the primary energy source used for domestic cooking and heating. However, 

other more efficient biomass technologies are available that could open opportunities for 

agriculture and rural development, and provide other socio-economic and environmental 

benefits. 

The main objective of this study is to estimate the biomass resources currently and potentially 

available in the country and evaluate their contribution for power generation and the production 

of transportation fuels. It intends to inform policy makers and industry developers of the biomass 

resource availability in Liberia, identify areas with high potential, and serve as a base for further, 

more detailed site-specific assessments. 

A variety of biomass resources exist in the country in large quantities and with opportunities for 

expansion. The study found that these resources are more than enough to cover the country’s 

annual electricity consumption of 297 GWh and oil consumption of 206 dam3

. While the 

contribution of food crop residues, animal manure, and municipal solid waste is small in 

comparison to other resources at a national level, they could play a valuable role in stand-alone 

electricity applications and be particularly effective for households in remote rural areas. On the 

other hand, cash crop and forest residues, resulting mainly from medium and large enterprises, 

provide opportunities for large-scale centralized power generation. 

The study considers potential biomass resources and the expansion of key existing resources, 

such as oil palm, coconut, and sugarcane, to evaluate their fuel and power production potential 

on available cropland. It is unrealistic to assume that all of this land would be used for cash crop 

cultivation. A portion of it may go under afforestation to maintain forest ecosystems and their 

unique biodiversity, or be used for food crops production and other agricultural activities, or be 

converted to urban land. Therefore, the study evaluates the fuel and power production potential 

of biomass resources under three scenarios: using 10%, 25%, and 50% of the available 

cropland for cash crop expansion. 

The local production and use of biomass resources as substitute for fossil-based fuels offers 

many socio-economic and environmental benefits for Liberia including energy security, 

investment opportunities, job creation, rural development, decreased greenhouse gas (GHG) 

emissions, waste utilization, and erosion control. However, if not managed properly, biomass 

resource development could have negative impacts, particularly to the environment. These 

include deforestation, increased GHG emissions, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion. The 

socio-economic and environmental implications briefly described in this paper should form the 

basis of a more detailed study on the impact of biomass resources development in order to 

guide appropriate national policies and measures. 

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Table of Contents 

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................ iii
 

Abbreviations and Acronyms ....................................................................................................... iv
 

Units of Measure.......................................................................................................................... iv
 

Glossary of Plant Names ............................................................................................................. iv
 

Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................v
 

Table of Contents......................................................................................................................... vi
 

List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. vii
 

List of Tables............................................................................................................................... vii
 

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................1
 

Agricultural Resources..................................................................................................................3
 

Forest Resources........................................................................................................................14
 

Urban Resources ........................................................................................................................19
 

Potential Biomass Resources .....................................................................................................22
 

Socio-Economic and Environmental Implications of Biomass Resource Development 

in Liberia................................................................................................................................27
 

Conclusions ................................................................................................................................29
 

References..................................................................................................................................31
 

Appendix A. Estimating Food Crop Residues by County............................................................34
 

Appendix B. Estimating Cash Crop Residues by County ...........................................................35
 

Appendix C. Estimating Forest Residues by County ..................................................................37
 

vi 
 

 

List of Figures 

Figure 1. Food Crop Residues in Liberia by County .....................................................................5
 

Figure 2. Rubber Plantations in Liberia.........................................................................................7
 

Figure 3. Oil Palm Plantations in Liberia.....................................................................................10
 

Figure 4. Cash Crop Residues in Liberia by County...................................................................13
 

Figure 5. Forest Land in Liberia ..................................................................................................15
 

Figure 6. Areas Suitable for Logging Contracts in Liberia ..........................................................16
 

Figure 7. Forest Residues in Liberia by County..........................................................................19
 

Figure 8. Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Major Urban Areas in Liberia ............................20
 

Figure 9. Land Cover ..................................................................................................................26
 

Figure 10. Satellite Imagery ........................................................................................................26
 

Figure 11. Forest Land Management in Liberia ..........................................................................37
 

List of Tables 

Table 1. Food Crop Residues in Liberia .......................................................................................4
 

Table 2. Food Crop Residues in Liberia by County ......................................................................4
 

Table 3. Cash Crop Residues in Liberia .....................................................................................12
 

Table 4. Cash Crop Residues in Liberia by County ....................................................................12
 

Table 5. Animal Manure and Biogas Potential in Liberia ............................................................14
 

Table 6. Logging Contracts in Liberia .........................................................................................17
 

Table 7. Forest Residues in Liberia ............................................................................................17
 

Table 8. Forest Residues in Liberia by County ...........................................................................18
 

Table 9. Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Electricity Potential in Major Urban Areas in 

Liberia ...................................................................................................................................21
 

Table 10. Waste Composition in Monrovia .................................................................................22
 

Table 11. Biofuels Potential in Liberia.........................................................................................24
 

Table 12. Bio-power Potential in Liberia .....................................................................................24
 

Table 13. Bio-power and Biofuels from Existing and Potential Biomass Resources ..................29
 

Table 14. Bio-power and Biofuels from Existing and Potential Biomass Resources by County .30
 

Table 15. Farming Families Growing Food Crops in Liberia, 2005.............................................34
 

Table 16. Farming Families Growing Cash Crops in Liberia, 2005 ............................................35
 

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Introduction 

Biomass energy is derived from plant-based material and residues where solar energy has been 

converted into organic matter. Biomass resources can be broadly classified into the following 

categories: 

•	 Agricultural crops and residues; 

•	 Dedicated energy crops (herbaceous and tree species); 

•	 Forestry products and residues; 

•	 Residues and byproducts from food, feed, fiber, wood, and materials processing plants 

[sawdust from sawmills, black liquor (a byproduct of paper making), cheese whey (a 

byproduct of cheese-making processes), and animal manure]; 

•	 Post-consumer residues and wastes, such as fats, greases, oils, construction and 

demolition wood debris and other urban wood wastes, municipal solid wastes and 

wastewater, and landfill gases. 

There are competing uses for biomass resources because of their economic and environmental 

value. Biomass can be used to generate power, heat, steam, and for producing transportation 

fuels. Biomass is also used by the food processing industries, animal feed industry, and the 

wood products industry, which includes construction and fiber products (paper and derivatives); 

along with chemical products made by these industries that have diverse applications including 

detergents, fertilizers, and erosion control products. 

In Liberia, as in nearly all of Sub-Sahara African countries, biomass (firewood, charcoal, and 

crop residues) is the primary energy source used for domestic cooking and heating. Up to 

99.5% of the population relies on biomass-based fuels according to the United Nations 

Development Programme (UNDP). Such an overwhelming and persistent dependence on 

biomass fuels is associated with severe environmental, health, and social implications, such as 

the destruction of forests, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, indoor air pollution, and increased 

travel distances for resource collection. Liberia’s economic recovery and population growth will 

lead to higher energy demand; therefore, managing and improving the production and 

consumption efficiency of biomass resources are key to sustainable development. Furthermore, 

introducing other alternative renewable energy sources like wind and solar, as well as further 

development of hydroelectricity would relieve the pressure on biomass resources in Liberia. 

Project Objectives and Approach 

This study intends to inform policy makers and industry developers of the biomass resource 

availability in Liberia, identify areas with high potential, and serve as a base for further, more 

detailed and site-specific assessments. 

The project’s objective is to estimate the biomass resources currently and potentially available 

in the country and evaluate their potential contribution for power generation and transportation 

fuels production. To accomplish this objective, agricultural, environmental, and socio-economic 

data are analyzed both statistically and graphically using geographic information systems (GIS). 

A GIS is a computer-based information system used to create, manipulate, and analyze 

geographic information. The results are presented in a tabular and geospatial format (maps) at 

a national, sub-national (county), and site-specific level. 

The biomass resource estimates are based on numerous assumptions and factors that relate 

agricultural, industrial, and demographic statistics to the amount of residue generated. A 

detailed description of the methodology is provided throughout the document. For several 

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plantation crops (cacao, rubber, coconut, and oil palm), for example, the study evaluates the 

contribution of a small portion (10%) of all residues available after replanting, and suggests that 

only 30% of cacao pods and rubber leaves are collected as biomass (the rest should be left on 

the field to maintain soil quality and control erosion). Although these numbers are conservative 

and somewhat arbitrary, the users have all the information necessary to adjust assumptions and 

conversion factors for further evaluation of the biomass resource availability. 

Detailed on-site analysis is recommended before developing any facilities; however, this 

analysis should be useful in refining the prospecting process of site identification. 

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Agricultural Resources 

Overview of Agricultural Sector 

Liberia has immense agricultural potential with an estimated 3.7 million hectares of arable land 

(38% of the total land area), of which about 6% is currently cultivated (FRM 2004). About 60% 

of the country, situated in the moist belt along the coast of West Africa, is covered by forest and 

woodland. The rain forest soils, while well drained, are highly leached, making Liberia better 

adapted to tree crop agriculture than to annual field crop production. 

The climate and terrain conditions in Liberia are very favorable for agricultural development. 

Due to abundant water resources in the country, irrigation infrastructure is virtually non-existent. 

The rainy season lasts from April to October with a very high annual rainfall, ranging from 1,600 

mm inland to 4,600 mm on the coast. The terrain is mostly made up of flat to rolling coastal 

plains, running into some interior plateaus and low mountains in the northeast. The country is 

divided into four agro-ecological zones: coastal plains (up to 100 m above sea level), interior 

hills (100–300 m), interior plateaus (300-600 m), and mountainous areas (in excess of 600 m). 

Agriculture is the backbone of Liberia’s economy, providing informal employment for more than 

70% of the workforce (mostly in rural areas) and contributing an estimated 53% to the gross 

domestic product (GDP) in 2006 (MOA 2007 and ITTAS 2008). The agricultural sector was left 

in ruin after Liberia’s 14-year civil war (which ended in 2003), and it is slowly starting to revive 

itself. The damage to the agricultural sector is manifested in low productivity of agricultural 

systems; disruption of production due to the displacement of farming communities; erosion of 

marketing systems due to road, transport, and processing infrastructure degradation; physical 

insecurity; lack of farming opportunities (including seeds and tools) in the areas of displacement; 

and socio-economic dislocation (FAO 2006). 

The Ministry of Agriculture defines three agricultural production systems, differentiated by the 

scale of production (MOA 2007): 

•	 Large plantations (between 800 and 40,000 ha) produce export crops from perennials 

such as rubber, oil palm, and to a lesser degree, coffee and cacao. This system can be 

sub-divided into the large commercial plantations that are owned and managed by the 

private sector (found particularly in the rubber and palm oil sectors) and the state-owned 

plantations run by the Liberian Palm Products Corporation and the Liberian Cocoa and 

Coffee Corporation. Production in this second group is limited, although they remain in 

existence. 

•	 Domestically owned, medium-sized commercial farms (between 5 and 200 ha) produce 

industrial crops for export and the local market (although these farms are extremely 

small in number). 

•	 Small household farms (average size of 1.2 ha), the livelihood of the rural population, 

make up the majority of all farming. They use traditional production techniques with 

extremely limited use of modern inputs. Household farms are based on family labor and 

concentrate on growing food crops like rice and cassava, with some growing cash crops 

like rubber, coffee, cacao, and oil palm. 

Food Crop Residues 

Liberia produces a variety of basic food crops, including rice (the staple food of the country), 

cassava, other roots and tubers (sweet potato, yam, and cocoyam), maize, vegetables, 

groundnuts, and pulses. After these crops have been harvested and processed, various 

residues and byproducts remain, such as stalks, straw, husks, and shells. No data have been 

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published on the quantities of crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts produced in Liberia. 

However, based on crop production statistics, and using appropriate crop to residue ratios, it is 

estimated that some 125,000 tonnes of food crop residues are produced each year (Table 1). 

The corresponding energy content is about 2,100 TJ, equivalent to 188 GWh of electricity.

1 

Leading counties include Nimba, Montserrado, and Bong (Table 2). The methodology for 

estimating the food crop residues by county is presented in Appendix A. 

Table 1. Food Crop Residues in Liberia 

Source: FAOSTAT 2005; Koopmans and Koppejan 1997; other root and tuber crops include sweet potatoes, coco yams, and yams; 

GWh calculation assumes that a tonne of dry biomass generates on average 1.5 MWhe with the efficiency in the range of 20 – 40%. 

Table 2. Food Crop Residues in Liberia by County 

Unlike other regions in the world, such as Southeast Asia, where food crops are produced 

commercially and generate large concentrations of residues, much of Liberia’s production is run 

by small households for self-consumption or local markets. Additionally, food crops cultivation in 

the country is widely scattered. Figure 1 illustrates the food crop residues by county and the 

1 The amount of energy produced from biomass depends on the energy conversion technology employed and the 

scale of operation. However, in general terms for electricity generation, each tonne of dry biomass can generate 

between 1 and 2 MWh e with efficiency in the range of 20 – 40%. This study uses an average conversion of 1.5 

MWh per tonne of dry biomass. 

4
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

location of populated places as an indicator of where these residues are generated within a 

county. The lack of large-scale food crops production, and their dispersion, increases collection 

and transportation costs, which would restrain the use of these residues for centralized 

electricity generation. Moreover, many crop residues and byproducts are seasonal and become 

available all at once at the same time of the year. Therefore, treatment and storage facilities will 

be required if they are to be made available as a bio-power feedstock throughout the year. 

Caveats 

It is difficult to estimate the amount of food crop residues that is actually available in Liberia for 

power generation or alternative transportation fuels. Considering Liberian households’ lifestyle, 

it is very likely that a significant portion of the residues identified here are already in use as 

animal feed, on farm applications, or for cooking and water heating. These resources are site 

specific and require detailed analyses for any proposed project. 

Figure 1. Food Crop Residues in Liberia by County 

Cash Crop Residues 

Cash crops grown in Liberia include rubber, coffee, cacao, coconut, sugarcane, plantain/banana 

(also serving as food crops), oil palm, pineapple, and kola nut (Table 3). Rubber, cacao, and 

coffee make very important contributions to the Liberian economy, accounting for 22% of GDP 

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in 2005. In addition, these crops are a significant element of export earnings. Rubber currently 

accounts for almost 90% of total exports because timber exports, which made up 50–60% of the 

total exports until the early 2000s, have been eliminated due to sanctions (MOA 2007). These 

sanctions were lifted in 2006. 

Currently, cash crops in Liberia are grown predominately on small household farms, except 

rubber and oil palm, grown on a range of small-, medium-, and large-scale production systems. 

Opportunities for growing cash crops on mid-size, commercial farms exist and it is expected that 

the share of this production system will grow as the agricultural sector in Liberia revives itself. 

Rubber has been Liberia’s principle cash crop since the 1920s. The country ranks third in 

Africa’s production of natural latex after Nigeria and Ivory Coast, with about 117,000 tonnes in 

2005 (FAOSTAT). Below is a list of the large-scale rubber plantations established in Liberia over 

the years and Figure 2 illustrates their locations: 

• Firestone near Harbel, Margibi County 

• Liberia Agricultural Company (LAC) near Buchanan, Grand Bassa County 

• Guthrie (also known as Goodrich plantation) near Baha, Bomi County 

• Liberia Company (LIBCO) near Cocopa, Nimba County 

• Salala Rubber Corporation near Nienka, Margibi County 

• Cavalla (initially part of the Firestone concession) near Harper, Maryland County 

• Sinoe Rubber Corporation (SRC) near Greenville, Sinoe County 

Some of these plantations were abandoned or taken over by rebel forces during the civil war. As 

a result, many suffered years of poor or indifferent management and would need significant 

investment to put them back in production. During this time, few plantations changed hands, 

such as Firestone, which sold its interests to the Japanese-owned Bridgestone in 1988, or 

ceased operation (the government suspended the agreement with LIBCO in December 2007, 

citing poor management). The two largest plantations, Firestone and LAC, remained in good 

condition after the war, and are currently producing significant quantities of rubber. As of July 

2007, the Firestone factory was producing 3,000-4,000 tonnes of rubber per month, while LAC 

was producing about 2,000 tonnes per month (PAC 2007). Two other plantations, Guthrie and 

Cavalla, reported production of about 4,000 tonnes each in 2006 (MOA 2007). Because of these 

companies’ operation, many household farmers in Liberia note that rubber is their current most 

important cash crop. They sell raw rubber to the companies, making the industry a big 

employment generator as well as a major income earner for the country (FAO 2006). 

6
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: UN 2006 

Figure 2. Rubber Plantations in Liberia 

The study estimates that large-scale rubber plantations in Liberia today cover an area of 

approximately 58,000 hectares (Appendix B). This type of plantation generates considerable 

amounts of wood residues from pruning and replanting activities. According to MOA, the tree 

stock in these plantations is still productive; however, UNEP indicates they are nearing the end 

of their productive lifespan. The rotation period, when the trees are cut down for replanting, is 

25-30 years. Tree trunks and branches become available during replanting and approximately 

81 dry tonnes of wood could be obtained per hectare (about 180 m3 of green wood). Tree trunks 

are usually used as timber and the small branches (54% of total biomass) are left in the field. If 

only 10% of the current rubber tree stock (about 5,800 ha) is replanted, it would result in roughly 

254,000 dry tonnes of wood branches. The corresponding energy content is about 4,600 TJ, 

equivalent to 381 GWh of electricity. Additional biomass resources from rubber trees that could 

be tapped as an energy source are the leaves. Rubber trees are deciduous—they shed their 

leaves during the dry season, resulting in a residue resource of about 1.4 tonnes per hectare. 

The leaves are often disposed of by burning at the end of the dry period. However, if collected, it 

would result in approximately 69,000 dry tonnes of biomass. Some of the leaves should be left 

on the field to maintain soil quality and control erosion; however, even if only 30% of this 

biomass resource is collected (~21,000 dry tonnes), about 31.5 GWh of electricity would be 

generated. 

This analysis doesn’t evaluate the residues generated from rubber trees grown on household 

farms because it is assumed that these residues are already in use as firewood or on farm 

applications. Additionally, MOA reports that more than 75% of the smallholder farms are newly 

planted, therefore no significant residue generation is expected in the next 15-20 years. 

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Another cash crop grown in Liberia is the cacao tree, whose seeds are the source of cocoa, 

cocoa butter, and chocolate. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates about 

3,000 tonnes of cacao beans are produced annually in Liberia. Cacao trees need shade and are 

not very suitable for large-scale monoculture plantations, making intercropping with other cash 

or food crops a common practice in the small household farms. There were, however, a few 

industrial-scale plantations operated by the Liberia Coffee and Cocoa Corporation (LCCC) in the 

1970s, one in Lofa County (15,000 ha) and another in Nimba County (13,000 ha). As with other 

industries, these plantations are currently under rehabilitation. Cacao is most commonly grown 

in interior counties with slightly higher altitudes, such as Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Lofa, and 

Gbarpolu. 

Cacao trees of the unimproved variety become viable after six years and have a productive 

lifespan of 20-25 years, during which they have to be pruned regularly. Prunings are either left 

in the field or used as firewood by households. Pruning activities in Liberia would yield about 

5,340 dry tonnes of biomass per year with a corresponding energy content of 96 TJ/year (8 

GWh). Additionally, replacing old, non-productive trees after 20-25 years results in about 48 kg 

of dry organic matter per tree (about 5,760 kg per hectare), assuming there are 1,200 trees per 

hectare (Koopmans and Koppejan 1997). The FAO estimates that there are about 17,000 ha 

currently planted with cacao. According to MOA, the vast majority of cacao trees in Liberia are 

more than 20 years old. If only 10% of the current cacao tree stock (1,700 ha) is replanted over 

the next year, it would generate about 10,000 dry tonnes of biomass, equivalent to 176 TJ (15 

GWh). Some of this resource is already in use as cacao trees are being cut and burned as 

charcoal in some areas of Liberia. Besides wood, residues in the form of cacao pods are 

generated and it is estimated that about 5,220 dry tonnes of pods were produced in 2005. A 

portion of this material should be left on the field as a source of valuable potassium fertilizer; 

however, if only 30% of this biomass resource is collected (1,566 dry tonnes), about 2.3 GWh of 

electricity would be generated. 

Coffee is another cash crop grown in Liberia with about 3,200 tonnes of green coffee produced 

each year. Coffee dominates in the central and northern counties, particularly in Lofa County, 

where about 82% of the farming families are growing the crop (UN 2006). 

The coffee tree grows fruit after 3-5 years, for about 50-60 years. Farmers prune coffee trees 

once per year, in a sequential rotation pattern (it takes 18 or more months for the coffee plants 

to grow back). The pruned material is left on the field to act as organic fertilizer and provide soil 

protection. No information is available on the amount of residues generated during coffee 

pruning activities; therefore, this biomass resource is not considered in this study. 

The two main coffee processing by-products are husk and pulp. Coffee husk is produced by 

processing harvested coffee through the dry method; coffee pulp is produced by the wet 

method.2 Liberia grows mainly Robusta, usually processed by the dry method, making coffee 

husks available after processing. Some of the husk is used as organic fertilizer, but if 

compressed into pellets, it can be used for power generation. The study estimates that about 

500 dry tonnes of husk are generated per year, with a corresponding energy content of 8 TJ and 

electricity generation potential of less than one GWh. 

Banana and plantains are major products in Liberia, serving as both cash and food crops. 

They are very important to food security during the hunger season (the period of time when all 

2 In the wet method, after harvesting and cleaning, the pulp is removed from the cherry before the drying stage. In 

the dry method, the entire cherry is placed in the sun to dry. 

8
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the food from the previous harvest has been consumed, and the next harvest hasn’t begun) 

because they produce fruit year-round. Bananas and plantains are cultivated by small-scale 

farmers in every county for household consumption and market supply. Annual production is 

about 110,000 tonnes for bananas and 42,000 tonnes for plantains. 

The life span of individual plants is about 1-1.5 years. Where plants receive care, the mat’s 

lifespan is virtually unlimited because it continually regenerates new plants. Stems and leaves 

are available as part of the plantations’ maintenance activities and it is estimated that about 89 

dry tonnes of biomass could be collected per hectare per year (Sheikh 1989). There are about 

29,000 ha under banana and plantain cultivation in Liberia; therefore, about 2.6 million tonnes of 

residues are collected annually. This amount corresponds to 41,000 TJ/year, equivalent to 

3,872 GWh. Banana and plantain residues have many competing uses, so it is difficult to 

estimate the amount that could be available for power generation. The stems and leaves are a 

source of mulch and fertilizer (upon composting), animal fodder, wrapping, eating utensils, and 

roofing. They are also a source of fiber and can be processed into textiles or used for 

papermaking. Banana and plantain peels are another type of residue, used as animal feed or 

left to decompose on the field. They can also be used to produce briquettes or biogas for 

cooking, heating, and electricity production. The study estimates that about 32,000 dry tonnes of 

peels are generated annually in Liberia, equivalent to 549 TJ/year or 48 GWh. 

Oil palm grows throughout Liberia but is particularly abundant in the coastal areas. It can yield 

cooking oil, animal food, and raw material for the manufacture of cosmetics, detergents, and 

pharmaceuticals. Palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel or used directly to run low-rpm 

diesel generators. In addition, the palm residues can be a feedstock for heat and power 

generation. 

Oil palm is different from the other tree crops in that a large part of the final product (palm oil) is 

obtained from wild groves. FAO estimates that about 35,000 tonnes of palm oil was produced in 

Liberia in 2007, with perhaps half of that production coming from wild trees. Cultivation is done 

on small household farms and medium- to large-scale state-owned plantations. Small-scale 

farms growing oil palm are dominant in Cape Mount County (49% of all farming families), 

Gbarpolu (19%), Nimba (19%), Sinoe (17%), and Bomi (17%). The state-owned plantations 

were largely abandoned during the war, some partly taken over by the local population for its 

own use. There has been no maintenance or replanting for about 20 years and the trees are at 

the end of their productive life. Moreover, all processing facilities were destroyed. A number of 

these plantations are available for rehabilitation and privatization, covering an area of about 

30,000 hectares. Recently, the government granted a management contract to Equatorial 

Biofuels Plc (EBF), a United Kingdom public company, for Butaw and LIBINCO oil palm 

plantations. No additional contracts have been awarded and the remaining plantations lie largely 

abandoned. Figure 3 illustrates the location of oil palm plantations in Liberia and their planted 

areas. 

9
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 3. Oil Palm Plantations in Liberia 

Oil palm residues generated during processing include fiber, shells, and empty fruit bunches 

(EFB). Liberia produced 183,000 tonnes of fruits in 2005 and the estimated residues amount to 

about 104,000 dry tonnes, or 1,680 TJ. Fronds become available on a regular basis during 

harvesting, and the study estimates that about 247,000 dry tonnes were generated in 2005 

(1,980 TJ). All of these residues can be used for power generation and the study estimates that 

their potential is about 528 GWh (Table 3). However, there are other uses for these residues. 

For example, EFB are rich in potassium so they are used as fertilizer and the fronds are used 

for mulching. The productive life of the oil palm tree is about 25-30 years, and during replanting 

tree trunks and fronds become available. As mentioned earlier, trees on the state-owned 

plantations are at the end of their productive life, therefore a significant amount of residues 

could be available in the next few years as part of the rehabilitation process. The average yield 

per hectare is about 80 dry tonnes of biomass. If only 10% of the area planted with oil palm 

trees in Liberia (about 3,000 ha) is replanted, it would yield 240,000 tonnes of biomass, 

equivalent to 4,320 TJ (360 GWh). 

Sugarcane grows very well in Liberia and production in 2005 was estimated at 255,000 tonnes. 

It is cultivated by small household farms mainly in the coastal south and central counties— 

Maryland, Nimba, Grand Kru, and Grand Bassa. There is a sugarcane plantation (about 2,428 

hectares) with a factory in Maryland County, owned by the Liberia Sugar Corporation 

10
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(LIBSUCO), which was destroyed during the Liberian civil conflict like many other industries in 

the country. A small quantity of sugar is produced for local consumption and the molasses and 

syrup are sold locally. In addition to sugar and syrup, alcohol for beverage and medicinal 

purposes is also produced for domestic and export consumption. The cane-juice liquor (“gin”) is 

traded across the border to the Ivory Coast and is an important source of income. 

The sugarcane residues - tops and leaves available during harvesting and the bagasse 

remaining after crushing - can be used to provide heat and power. These residues are currently 

used as animal feed, fertilizer (tops and leaves), and for cooking by households. The study 

estimates that about 76,000 tonnes of sugarcane residues were generated in Liberia in 2005, 

equivalent to 1,300 TJ or 114 GWh (Table 3). 

Coconut in Liberia is grown on small- to mid-size household farms, mainly along the coastline. 

The only large coconut plantation (8,000 ha) is owned by the Liberia Palm and Produce 

Corporation (LPPC) in Greenville, Sinoe County. It was operated in the 1980s and is currently 

under rehabilitation. The coconut tree is a source of edible oil and many other products: copra 

meal provides a highly nutritional animal feed; roots are used in traditional medicine; trunks 

provide timber; leaves are used as material for roofing, fences, and baskets; waste coconut 

husks provide fiber and peat; and coconut shells are used to create household products and 

fashion accessories. The lignocellulosic biomass from coconut trees (trunks, fronds, husks, and 

shells) are also used as direct fuel for cooking and can be used to provide electricity. The husks 

themselves can be a good source of charcoal. In addition, the oil can be used to produce 

biodiesel or used directly to run low-rpm diesel generators. 

A study by the Sustainable Rural Enterprise (SRE) estimates that there are more than 81,000 

hectares planted with coconut trees in Liberia (Manapol 2007). The average production per 

hectare per year of a coconut plantation is one tonne, thus about 81,000 tonnes of coconuts are 

produced annually in Liberia. Applying the appropriate crop to residue ratios, it is estimated that 

about 80,000 tonnes of processing residues (husks and shells) and 194,000 tonnes of 

harvesting residues (fronds) are generated. If only 10% of the area planted with coconut trees in 

Liberia is replanted, it would yield 7,800 tonnes of biomass equivalent to 125 TJ (12 GWh) 

(Table 3). 

Other cash crops include pineapple and kola nut, grown in every county, and are usually 

intercropped with other plants. Leading counties for pineapple include Bomi and Grand Bassa, 

where 29% of all households are growing the plant, and Cape Mount (21% of all households). 

Kola nut is grown in Bomi (28% of all households), Gbarpolu (17% of all households), and 

Montserrado (16% of all households) (UN 2006). 

Annual production of pineapple is estimated at 7,200 tonnes (FAOSTAT). Plants bear for 3-5 

years after which they are usually replanted. Up to 80 tonnes of leaves per hectare are available 

annually after harvesting the fruits (moisture content is very high, 80-85%). There are about 

1,200 hectares planted with pineapple in Liberia (FAOSTAT), so 19,200 tonnes of dry biomass 

can be collected annually (265 TJ). The leaves are used as animal feed and are a source of 

fiber. In some cases they are left on the field. No information is available on the amount of 

residues generated during harvesting, processing, and replanting of kola tree; therefore, this 

crop is not considered in the study. 

Table 3 summarizes cash crop residues generated annually in Liberia and their relative energy 

content. The total amount is estimated at 3.9 million tonnes of biomass, equivalent to about 

63,000 TJ per year (5,890 GWh of electricity). Residues from banana and plantains have the 

11
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

largest contribution (67%), followed by biomass material from oil palm (15%), and rubber (8%). 

The distribution of these resources by county is illustrated in Table 4 and Figure 3. Counties 

generating the largest amount of residues include Nimba, Montserrado, Margibi, and Bong. 

Table 3. Cash Crop Residues in Liberia 

Source: FAOSTAT (production in 2005); Koopmans and Koppejan 1997; Sajjakulnukit, B., et al 2005; SRE 2007 

N/A – Not applicable 

* Includes large-scale plantations only; 

** Residues are calculated for 10% of current cacao, rubber, coconut, and oil palm tree stock; GWh calculation assumes that a
 

tonne of dry biomass generates on average 1.5 MWhe with the efficiency in the range of 20 – 40%. 

Table 4. Cash Crop Residues in Liberia by County 

* Large-scale plantations only; N/A – Not applicable; these estimates don’t include residues from replanting activities, coconut 

fronds, banana/plantain stems and leaves, and pineapple residues; EFB – Empty Fruit Bunches. 

12
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 4. Cash Crop Residues in Liberia by County 

Animal Manure 

The livestock sector has never been a major feature of the agriculture in Liberia but it is an 

important activity to traditional farmers. There are an estimated 2 million hectares of pastureland 

in the country, yet the livestock sector accounts for only 14% of agricultural GDP, far below its 

potential (MOA 2007). According to the United Nations, the main livestock for rural and semiurban Liberians today is poultry (about 47% of households). About 8% of farming families own 

ducks, and 5% own pigs and goats. Sheep and cattle are hardly present. Before the war, there 

were seven large cattle farms in Maryland, Grand Kru, and Sinoe counties, covering an area of 

2,000 ha. Today they are only slowly being rehabilitated, mainly in Maryland. These three 

counties are characterized by vast areas of grassland which are less suitable for agricultural 

production but are ideal for raising livestock (UN 2006). 

Livestock manure is used as an organic fertilizer, building material, and energy source. It can be 

used as fuel in two ways: either burned directly or anaerobically digested to produce biogas3

, 

which is then burned. Biogas is a more efficient source of energy than raw manure, and the 

3 Biogas is the gaseous product of the anaerobic digestion (decomposition without oxygen) of organic matter. The 

composition of biogas varies depending upon the origin of the anaerobic digestion process. Typical composition is 

CH4 (50% to 70%), CO2 (30% to 50%), and traces of gases such as H, CO, and N. 

13
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

residue from the bio-digesters (spent slurry) can be used as a valuable fertilizer. Under 

controlled and optimized conditions, a bio-digester can convert feedstock into biogas in a few 

days. Small- and medium-scale digesters (up to 6m3

) can provide biogas for single-household 

cooking and lighting in rural communities. Large-scale digesters can supply biogas in large 

volumes for electricity generation, heat, steam, and transportation fuel production. 

The study evaluates the animal manure generation in Liberia and estimates the potential biogas 

production at about 36 hm3 per year, equivalent to 219 GWh (Table 5). An estimate of the 

biogas potential from animal husbandry on the sub-national level was possible for select 

counties where data on animal population was available. A project completed by the FAO 

(Smith 2002) assessed the livestock population in 8 counties: Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, 

Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, River Cess, and Grand Bassa. Among these counties, Nimba had 

the highest population of livestock in 2001 (more than 21,500 cattle, sheep/goats, pigs, and 

poultry), followed by Montserrado (2,180), and Grand Gedeh (1,752). Considering the factors 

outlined in Table 5—animal type, manure generation, and biogas production—Nimba County 

has the highest potential for electricity generation from biogas (2,856 MWh), followed by Bong 

(97 MWh), Grand Bassa (80 MWh), Grand Gedeh (59 MWh), Montserrado (42 MWh), Margibi 

(36 MWh), River Cess (28 MWh), and Sinoe (15 MWh). 

Table 5. Animal Manure and Biogas Potential in Liberia 

Source: MOA 2007; Manure generation per day considers medium size animals; The calorific value of biogas is about 6 

kWh/m3

, which corresponds to about 0.5 liter of diesel oil. The net calorific value depends on the efficiency of the burners 

or appliances. hm3 – cubic hectometer or 1,000,000 m3 

Forest Resources 

Overview of Forestry Sector 

Liberia possesses substantial forest resources covering about 5.7 million hectares, equivalent to 

60% of the total area (FRM 2004). The country is situated in the Upper Guinean Forest, 

stretching from Cameroon to Guinea, which is believed to shelter a large number of diverse 

plant and animal species. Liberian forests are characterized by evergreen trees and shrubs 

along the more humid coastal regions where mangroves are also located; deciduous and 

mountain species, located in the hills of Northwest Liberia and Mount Nimba; and rainforest in 

the inland hills and plains. These forests are home to some 250 species of timber, including the 

highly valued mahoganies and African walnut. Figure 5 illustrates the spatial distribution of 

forests in Liberia, as well as the 11 designated National Forests in the country (under very 

limited protection), and the two legally protected areas, Sapo National Park (approximately 

149,000 ha) and East Nimba (about 15,000 ha). 

14
 
 

 

 

 

 

Figure 5. Forest Land in Liberia 

Liberia’s forests are of special importance to the economy because they provide employment in 

the rural areas, fuel sources (charcoal and firewood), and export products (logs and timber). 

However, forest resources were mismanaged and the revenue generated from the sector was 

misappropriated during Liberia’s civil conflict. As a result, the United Nations Security Council 

imposed sanctions on Liberia’s timber exports in 2003 (FDA 2007). In 2004, the Liberian 

government, assisted by the international community, examined all 70 logging companies in 

Liberia. In addition to the lack of legality, the concession review found that these companies had 

violated many environmental, labor, and forestry laws and regulations (Woods et al. 2008). 

Following the concession review, President Sirleaf’s administration cancelled all concessions by 

executive order in February 2006, put in place a moratorium on all logging activities, and passed 

a new National Forestry Reform Law. In June 2006, the U.N. Security Council acknowledged 

the reforms of the new government and lifted the sanctions on timber. 

The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) is the sole government agency responsible for 

managing forest resources in Liberia. As a part of the forestry reform program, the FDA 

identifies areas suitable for logging and awards the harvesting contracts through competitive 

bidding. The new agreements are focused on responsible logging, which considers the 

environment and the needs of local communities. According to the National Forestry Strategy, 

15
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

there are two distinct types of logging contracts meant to achieve different objectives (Woods et 

al 2008): 

•	 Forest Management Contracts (FMC): Long-term contracts for large areas of up to 

400,000 hectares (akin to the traditional concessions). Small FMCs (50,000-100,000 

hectares) are reserved for majority-owned (51%) Liberian companies, although they 

represent an opportunity for joint ventures between domestic and foreign partners. There 

are no restrictions on company ownership for larger FMCs. 

•	 Timber Sale Contracts (TSC): Short-term contracts (less than 3 years) for smaller 

areas (less than 5,000 hectares). TSCs are focused on areas that will likely be cleared 

for plantations or farming, therefore the management requirements for harvesting the 

timber is less onerous. This means that TSCs require less planning and can be awarded 

more easily than FMCs. TSCs are also reserved for majority-owned Liberian companies. 

Figure 6 illustrates the areas suitable for these two types of logging contracts. 

Figure 6. Areas Suitable for Logging Contracts in Liberia 

In 2008, through the FDA, the government awarded three FMCs and six TSCs to pre-qualified 

companies in various counties. Additionally, the FDA announced that four more FMCs were 

16
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

available for purchase as of December 5, 2008. Table 6 illustrates the location, ownership, and 

size of the existing and pending logging contracts in Liberia. 

Table 6. Logging Contracts in Liberia 

Source: FDA 2008 

Forest Residues include wood residues from logging and wood-processing activities. Logging 

residues are the unused portions of trees cut during logging operations and left in the woods. 

These include stumps, branches, leaves, off-cuts, and sawdust. Wood-processing residues, or 

primary mill residues, are composed of wood materials (such as discarded logs, bark, sawdust, 

and shavings) generated at manufacturing plants—sawmill, veneer mill, plywood mill, or pulp 

mill—when round-wood products are processed into primary wood products. Forest residues 

can be used to generate heat, electricity, liquid fuels, and solid fuels (compressed wood such as 

pellets, briquettes, or charcoal briquettes). 

As mentioned above, due to the forestry reform program, the government cancelled all 

concession agreements across Liberia in early 2006. Consequently, there are no formal forestry 

activities in the country, though small-scale pit sawing is evident in many areas. This study 

evaluates the forest residues that could potentially be available in the country after logging 

concessions resume operation. It estimates that about 19.6 hm3 of forest residues could be 

collected, equivalent to 162,645 TJ per year, or 15,248 GWh of electricity (Table 7). The 

analysis methodology is described below. 

Table 7. Forest Residues in Liberia 

hm3 - cubic hectometer (1 hm3 = 1,000,000 m3); Mt – Megatonne (106 tonnes); conversion of volume to mass is 

based on average density of 792 kg/m3 for logging residues and 300 kg/m3 for saw-milling residues with a 

moisture content of 20%. GWh calculation assumes that a tonne of dry biomass generates on average 

1.5 MWhe with the efficiency in the range of 20 – 40%; Air-dry wood (20% moisture content) has an energy value 

of about 16 MJ/kg. 

The current logging contracts in Liberia cover an area of about 1 million hectares (Table 6). 

According to Mano Properties & Investment, Inc., a company registered with the FDA and pre17
 
 

 

 

 

 

qualified for TSCs, the average forest yield in the country is about 21 m3 per hectare (MPI 

2008). Therefore, approximately 21.78 hm3 of wood could be available from forest lands. 

Residue generation varies considerably depending on species and local practices. For the 

purpose of this study, an average recovery factor of 40% for logging residues and 50% (38% 

solid wood waste and 12% sawdust) for saw-milling residues was used. This corresponds to 

roughly 9 hm3 of logging residues and 11 hm3 of saw-milling residues (Table 7). Table 8 and 

Figure 7 illustrate the distribution of these resources by county and the analysis methodology is 

presented in Appendix C. 

Table 8. Forest Residues in Liberia by County 

dam3 – cubic decameter or 1,000 m3 

18
 
 

 

 

 

 

Figure 7. Forest Residues in Liberia by County 

Urban Resources 

The concentration of population and activities in urban areas is responsible for the generation of 

waste. This waste, referred to as municipal solid waste (MSW), is generated by households and 

the commercial and industrial sectors. The waste takes many forms, including plastics, paper, 

textiles, glass, metal, wood, food, and other organic wastes. MSW, particularly the biogenic 

fraction, is a resource that can be converted to electricity, heat, gaseous and liquid fuels through 

thermo-chemical (incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification), and bio-chemical (anaerobic 

digestion and fermentation) conversion processes. 

The use of waste as an energy source provides two important benefits of environmentally safe 

waste management and disposal, as well as the generation of clean electric power. Waste-toenergy combustion reduces the volume of trash by about 90%, resulting in a 90% decrease in 

the amount of land required for garbage disposal. The amount of ash on a weight basis is as 

high as 25% of the input. Using biogas emitted from landfill sites, also called “landfill gas”, can 

capture roughly 60-90% of the methane, depending on system design and effectiveness. Given 

that all landfills generate methane, it is logical to use the gas for energy generation rather than 

emitting this highly potent greenhouse gas to the atmosphere (U.S. EPA). 

19
 
 

 

 

 

The waste disposal method practiced in Liberia is open dumping and swampland reclamation. 

There is a complete absence of engineered landfills, though one is under development in 

Wehnn Town, Montserrado County; instead, there are many dumpsites available in proximity to 

major communities posing threat to humans’ health, wetland ecosystems, and water resources. 

Despite the fact that there are no landfill sites in Liberia, the study evaluates the MSW resource 

to illustrate its electricity generation potential. Waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy 

facilities tend to be built at the landfills of large urban centers, although small-scale projects 

could be developed in rural areas. Therefore, the study estimates the generation potential of 

waste-to-power in major populated places in Liberia with more than 5,000 people. 

Estimations for MSW generated in Liberia’s major urban areas use 2008 population numbers 

derived from the National Population and Housing Census (LISGIS 2008) and a factor that 

relates population to the amount of post-consumer residue generation. A waste generation rate 

of 0.6kg/day/person was used in this study adopted from the World Bank Technical Paper No. 

426 (World Bank 1999), which includes 0.5kg/day/person for domestic waste generation, plus a 

further 0.1kg/day/cap for commercial and industrial waste. Figure 8 illustrates the results of this 

analysis. 

Figure 8. Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Major Urban Areas in Liberia 

20
 
 

 

 

 

 

The amount of MSW generated annually in Liberia’s major urban areas is estimated at 270,000 

tonnes (Table 9). The biogenic materials (paper, wood, textiles, and vegetable/putrescibles) are 

64% of total MSW or about 172,000 tonnes, based on the waste composition in Liberia (Table 

10). A typical waste-to-energy plant generates about 550 kWh per tonne of waste combusted. 

Modern waste incineration plants have efficiencies for power generation of 20%-25%, and new 

designs could exceed 30%. The electrical energy from the biogenic portion of the MSW in 

Liberia’s major urban areas, via thermo-chemical conversion, is estimated at 52 GWh per year. 

Table 9. Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Electricity Potential in Major Urban Areas in Liberia 

Population numbers are for 2008; waste generation rate: 0.6 kg/day/person; the study considers 330 annual operating days; 

Biogenic materials are 64% of total MSW with moisture content as follow: paper – 6%, wood/straw – 40%, textiles – 10%, 

vegetable/putrescibles – 60%;Thermo-Chemical pathway considers incineration technology. 

21
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 10. Waste Composition in Monrovia 

Source: UNEP 2007; adopted from the Waste Management Plan for 

Monrovia, 2004 

Note: Miscellaneous items include sand, ash, and small grained and wet 

food waste that could not be sorted. 

An alternative treatment of the biogenic waste fraction is anaerobic digestion. Approximately 50 

to 200 m3 of landfill gas is produced per tonne of MSW collected and dumped in landfills. The 

volume of gas produced depends on several factors: the amount, type, and age of waste; 

moisture content; temperature; pH; and site conditions. Without a particular site in mind, it is 

difficult to estimate the energy potential of MSW via bio-chemical conversion in Liberia. Also, it 

is difficult to put a timeframe on landfill gas recovery. As opposed to bio-digesters where waste 

feedstock is converted to biogas in controlled, optimized conditions, anaerobic decomposition in 

a landfill is uncontrolled and very slow. It may take several years before the level of production 

is sufficient to fuel an electricity generator, although an advanced technology exists to 

accelerate the digestion process within a few months. 

Potential Biomass Resources 

Real opportunities for biomass resource expansion exist in Liberia considering the favorable 

agro-climatic conditions. As mentioned earlier, the Liberian soils are better adapted to tree-crop 

agriculture than annual field-crop production. Even if food-crop production increases, it will 

predominantly be used to secure food supply rather than as a biomass resource. Therefore, the 

study evaluates the potential expansion of tree crops in the country, particularly oil palm and 

coconut. These two crops have diverse applications as an energy source—they can be used in 

parallel as feedstock for the production of transportation fuels and power generation. Sugarcane 

is also evaluated for the same reason. The study does not evaluate the potential forest 

resources in Liberia due to the reforms that are taking place in this sector and the uncertainty of 

their outcome. Additionally, all of the proposed protected areas fall within the forest lands (see 

Appendix C); therefore, the extent of the areas that are designated as protected would 

determine the forest land available for logging, and respectively, the residues that could be 

collected as biomass. The same applies to the rubber, coffee, and cacao industries which are 

going through a rehabilitation process. 

22
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The study estimates that of the total cropland in Liberia, only 6% is currently cultivated. The 

remaining cropland amounts to some 3 million hectares. It is unrealistic to assume that all of this 

land would go under tree-crop cultivation. A portion of it may go under afforestation to maintain 

forest ecosystems and their unique biodiversity, or be used for food crops production and other 

agricultural activities, or be converted to urban land. Therefore, the study evaluates the fuel and 

power production potential of biomass resources grown on the available cropland under three 

scenarios: using 10%, 25%, and 50% of the available cropland for cash crop expansion. The 

results of this analysis are presented in Table 11 and Table 12. 

Liberia, situated in the tropical biome, has the advantage of growing the most desirable 

feedstocks for biofuels production—with the highest yield per land unit—compared to those in 

the temperate biome. Liberian feedstocks include oil palm, coconut, and sugarcane. Biodiesel 

yielded from oil palm is about 6,000 L/ha. Rapeseed supplies on average 1,200 L/ha and 

soybeans about 500 L/ha. Ethanol yielded from sugarcane is between 5,000-6,500 L/ha while 

corn supplies about 3,100 L/ha. If only 10% of the available cropland is used to expand oil palm 

or coconut cultivation, it would yield about 1,800 dam3 and 641 dam3 of biodiesel per year, 

respectively. If 10% of the available cropland is used for expansion of sugarcane production, it 

would yield about 1,500 dam3 of ethanol annually. This volume of biofuels would be more than 

enough to cover the country’s transportation needs of about 206 dam3 per year (Index Mundi 

2005). In addition to vegetable oil, used cooking oil and animal fat could also be used as 

feedstocks for biodiesel production. Moreover, as one liter of vegetable oil provides about 2 

kWh of electricity with conversion efficiency at 21%, these oils and fats could be used directly in 

stand-alone diesel generators to provide electricity for rural communities. 

As mentioned earlier, the residues generated during the harvesting and processing of the tree 

and herbaceous crops can be used to generate electricity or to produce charcoal, thereby 

reducing deforestation and improving public health. In the case of sugarcane, bagasse can be 

used to provide heat and electricity for use in the mill, making the industrial process selfsufficient and even generating a surplus. If 10% of the available cropland is used to expand the 

cultivation of oil palm, coconut, or sugarcane, it would generate about 18,000 GWh, 452 GWh, 

and 9,000 GWh of electricity per year, respectively. This production would be more than enough 

to meet Liberia’s current electricity consumption of 297 GWh (CIA 2005). In addition to power 

generation, the crop residues could be used to produce transportation fuels via advanced 

conversion technologies: ethanol production via enzymatic fermentation and Fischer Tropsch 

hydrocarbons via gasification to syngas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen). 

Significant research and development efforts are underway in many developed countries to 

improve and commercialize these technologies. 

Another multipurpose plant receiving a lot of attention recently is Jatropha Curcas. This tropical 

perennial shrub is already used as a live fence and to control erosion; the oil extracted from the 

seeds is used for medicinal purposes and soap making; and the seedcake is used as organic 

fertilizer and animal feed. As of late, the plant’s oil has been targeted as a feedstock for 

biodiesel production or a direct substitute for petroleum diesel in power generators. In addition, 

the processing residues (shells and husks) can be used as solid biofuels in power plants. 

23
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 11. Biofuels Potential in Liberia 

* Cash crops only; total area and cropland data provided by FRM; Note: Crop yields, and biofuels yield respectively, can vary widely. This analysis uses the following yields: biodiesel from palm oil – 6,000 

L/ha, biodiesel from coconut oil – 2,100 L/ha, ethanol from sugarcane – 5,000 L/ha; the energy content of ethanol is about 67% that of gasoline. The energy content of biodiesel is about 90% that of 

petroleum diesel. 

Table 12. Bio-power Potential in Liberia 

* Cash crops only; total area and cropland data provided by FRM; Note: Crop yields can vary widely. This analysis uses the following yields: oil palm – 20 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches per hectare, coconut 

– 1 tonne of nuts/ha, sugarcane - 65 tonnes/ha. The residues generated by each crop are estimated using the methodology described earlier in the paper; one dry tonne of biomass can generate 1-2 MWh 

of electricity (20-40% efficiency) - this analysis uses an average of 1.5 MWh per dry tonne. 

24
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although Jatropha holds considerable potential as a diesel substitute, there are many 

uncertainties surrounding its cultivation, primarily because while it grows abundantly in the wild, 

it has never been domesticated. The establishment, management, and productivity of the plant 

are not well understood and documented. Until this knowledge is improved, it is perhaps best to 

think of Jatropha as a secondary crop (as an intercrop or hedge), as part of rural livelihoods and 

local energy projects, and not as a monoculture. If used as an intercrop, Jatropha can provide 

an additional source of income for small farmers. For example, in Peru there are plans for 

intercropping the plant with coffee; in the Philippines with coconut trees. The United States has 

a trial orange farm intercropped with Jatropha. In Madagascar, farmers traditionally use it to 

support the climbing stem of vanilla. Jatropha can also be intercropped with banana/plantains 

and used for attracting scarring beetles so they don’t scratch the fruits and lower their selling 

value. The range of oil yield per land unit varies widely in the literature—between 500 and 1,500 

liters per hectare (some sources even suggest 2,000 liters/ha). If planted as a fence, its yield is 

approximately equal to one-tenth the yield of the area enclosed by the fence (Krypton Systems 

2008). For example, if 5 ha farm is fenced with Jatropha, the collected oil would be about 500 L, 

assuming a yield of 1,000 L/ha. The oil-to-biodiesel ratio is almost 1:1, therefore about 500 L of 

biodiesel could be produced on a 5 ha farm. 

Caveats 

To calculate the forest and cropland area in Liberia, the project relies exclusively on the 2004 

GIS data provided by Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency. The data was created by the 

French firm Forest Resources Management (FRM). However, the spatial distribution of the land 

cover types in this dataset (Figure 9) is different than those illustrated by Google’s latest satellite 

imagery (Figure 10). Therefore, additional work is needed to ensure accurate and up-to-date 

information on the land cover distribution in Liberia for a more precise analysis of the land 

availability and biomass resource potential. 

25
 
Figure 9. Land Cover 

Figure 10. Satellite Imagery 

26
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Socio-Economic and Environmental Implications of Biomass Resource 

Development in Liberia 

The local production and use of biomass resources as substitute for fossil-based fuels offers 

many attractive benefits for Liberia; however, they could also have negative effects if not 

managed properly. The following socio-economic and environmental implications should form 

the basis of a more detailed study on the impact of biomass resource development to guide 

appropriate national policies and measures. 

Socio-Economic Implications 

The global quest for alternative sources of energy, especially in the area of transportation fuels, 

presents an opportunity for local and foreign investments in Liberia, as well as increased export 

earnings. Pursuing Liberia’s biomass potential would have a domino effect: it would boost 

agricultural development, boost technological advancement, and bring job opportunities, thereby 

improving quality of life. Also, because biomass resources can be converted to liquid and 

gaseous fuels, electricity, and process heat, they can increase access to modern forms of 

energy for the Liberian population. Moreover, producing biomass resources domestically 

reduces the country’s dependence on foreign energy sources and vulnerability to supply 

disruptions. 

Biomass resource cultivation, harvesting, and processing could have a direct impact on rural 

development and poverty reduction. It could improve rural livelihoods by providing new income 

opportunities to families and communities growing biomass, or through direct employment. 

Using biomass resources in stand-alone power generation units could insulate poor rural 

households from energy price fluctuations, allowing for an independent electricity source. 

Although there are numerous benefits, the expansion of biomass resource development could 

also have some negative socio-economic effects on rural communities. A study by the 

Worldwatch Institute points out that in the biofuels industry, most jobs are found at plantations 

where wages and working conditions can be very poor (Worldwatch 2008). Also, companies can 

make false promises about jobs for local communities. The study found that small farms could 

be more effective in job development than large scale plantations, stating that small farming 

systems in Indonesia provide livelihoods for 260 times as many people per hectare of land as oil 

palm plantations. Depopulation of regions could also be associated with large-scale 

monoculture plantations due to depletion of traditional wood and food resources. 

Environmental Implications 

The local production and use of biomass resources offers many benefits to the environment, 

including offsetting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with burning fossil fuels, waste 

utilization, and erosion control among others. Clearly biomass technology directly benefits the 

environment while helping solve pressing environmental problems. 

Using biomass to produce energy is carbon neutral because it releases roughly as much carbon 

dioxide (CO2) as it takes in. For every MWh of biomass power, approximately 1.6 tonnes of CO2 

are avoided (Morris 2008). This figure includes 0.8 tons/MWh from avoided fossil fuel use and 

0.8 tons/MWh avoided from biomass decomposition or open burning. Carbon dioxide is the 

principal GHG that causes global warming, and the increasing levels of its concentration in the 

atmosphere are of great concern. The use of biomass resources, managed in a sustainable 

way, would reduce CO2 emissions and help tackle global warming. 

27
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While CO2 is the principal GHG, methane is a close second. According to the Intergovernmental 

Panel on Climate Change, methane is about 21 times as effective as CO2 at trapping heat in the 

atmosphere. Therefore, reducing 1 tonne of methane has the same positive effect as reducing 

21 tonnes of CO2. Methane is the principal component in biogas, and as described earlier, it is 

produced by anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as manure, 

sewage, and MSW. Biogas capture and utilization presents an attractive opportunity for waste 

management in Liberia because it is a valuable renewable energy source that can be used to 

provide electricity while reducing methane emissions. This technology could be particularly 

effective in handling rubber wastewater, which is otherwise dumped in rivers, creating serious 

pollution problems. The green byproduct from biogas digesters are rich in nutrients and could be 

reapplied to rubber plantations. As Liberia plans to further develop the palm oil industry, biogasto-electricity technology could be used to handle the industry’s waste. Another waste 

management problem with environmental and human health implications in Liberia that could be 

tackled with biomass technology is the disposal of MSW. The use of waste as an energy source 

provides two important benefits: environmentally safe waste management and disposal, as well 

as clean electric power generation. Waste-to-energy combustion reduces the volume of trash by 

about 90%, decreasing the amount of land required for garbage disposal by 90%. 

Biomass resource development, under proper management, could be very beneficial in 

managing soil erosion. Afforestation and reforestation activities could prevent the soils from 

being washed or blown away, and residues from production and harvesting could provide 

additional soil protection as well as other benefits such as nutrient supply and moisture 

retention. 

Some of the negative environmental impacts associated with the production and use of biomass 

resources include deforestation, increased GHG emissions, loss of biodiversity, and soil 

erosion. Deforestation is caused primarily by shifting cultivation (land clearing for crop 

production) and excessive logging. This could have reverse GHG effects: first, clearing is often 

done by burning, which releases CO2; and second, once removed, the trees no longer 

contribute to carbon storage. Liberia’s population relies almost entirely on biomass resources 

(firewood and charcoal) for its energy needs; therefore, using alternative sources is critical to 

forest sustainability. Charcoal, for example, is produced mainly from trees, so using alternative 

sources like coconut husks and banana peels would relieve the pressure on native forests. 

Deforestation also leads to soil erosion and decline in biodiversity. Additionally, loss of 

biodiversity could result from an increase in monoculture crops and plantations. A study by the 

Integrated Framework in 2008 stated that where forest has been replaced by oil palm or rubber 

trees, up to 80% of reptile, mammal, and bird species previously found cannot be supported by 

the new environment. The use of pesticides and herbicides also devastates fauna and flora. The 

study also points out that the palm oil and rubber industries are rife with unsustainable 

environmental practices. As Liberia plans to revive and expand these industries, proper 

planning and management will be required to ensure protection of its rich biodiversity. 

28
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusions 

This study estimates the biomass resources currently and potentially available in Liberia and 

evaluates their power generation and transportation fuels production potential. A variety of 

biomass resources exist in the country with large quantities and opportunities for expansion. As 

illustrated in Table 13, these resources are more than enough to cover the country’s annual 

electricity consumption of 297 GWh (CIA 2005) and oil consumption of 206 dam3 (Index Mundi 

2005). While the contribution of food crop residues, animal manure, and MSW is small in 

comparison to other resources at a national level, they could play a valuable role in stand-alone 

electricity applications and be particularly effective for households in remote rural areas. On the 

other hand, cash crop and forest residues, resulting mainly from medium and large enterprises, 

provide opportunities for large-scale centralized power generation. 

Considering the potential biomass resources or the expansion of key existing resources such as 

oil palm, coconut, and sugarcane, the study evaluates their fuel and power production potential 

on available cropland. The study estimates that of the total cropland in Liberia, only 6% is 

currently cultivated and that the remaining cropland amounts to some 3 million hectares. It is 

unrealistic to assume that all of this land would go under cash crop cultivation—a portion of it 

may go under afforestation to maintain forest ecosystems and their unique biodiversity, or be 

used for food crops production and other agricultural activities, or be converted to urban land. 

Therefore, the study evaluates the fuel and power production potential of biomass resources 

under three scenarios: using 10%, 25%, and 50% of the available cropland for cash crops 

expansion. Table 13 illustrates the conservative results of this analysis—using up to 30% of the 

available cropland for expanded cash crops production. If this percentage increases, it would 

double or triple the bio-power and biofuels production potential as shown by the different 

analysis scenarios in the previous chapter. 

Table 13. Bio-power and Biofuels from Existing and Potential Biomass Resources 

“-“ Not Applicable; * Includes palm and coconut oil – using 10% of available cropland for 

oil palm and 10% for coconut; ** Using 10% of available cropland; *** Includes oil palm, 

coconut, and sugarcane residues – using 30% of available land (10% for each crop); 

1 liter of vegetable oil = 2 kWh at 21% conversion efficiency; 1 tonne of lignocellulosic 

biomass yields ~ 300 liters of ethanol. Note: Currently, Liberia produces vegetable oils, 

which are mostly used in food consumption, medicinal, and few other purposes. Thus, 

it is unlikely that these resources would be used as a diesel substitute in the near future. 

29
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The contribution of each county to the total amount of bio-power and biofuels from existing and 

potential biomass resources is presented in Table 14. With regard to existing resources, Nimba 

County ranks first with the highest amount, thus the highest electricity potential, followed by 

Montserrado, Bong, Margibi, Grand Bassa, and so on. Regarding future biomass resources, the 

quantity and their respective bioenergy potentials are highly dependent on the available 

cropland in each county. The ranking is slightly different—Bong County is leading, followed by 

Nimba, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Gbarpolu, etc. 

Table 14. Bio-power and Biofuels from Existing and Potential Biomass Resources by County 

1 dry tonne of biomass = 1.5 MWh of electricity (20-40% efficiency); * The total doesn't add up to total for the whole country. The 

analysis by county excludes residues from replanting. There would be different removal rates depending on local tree stock 

conditions; * Includes palm and coconut oil - using 10% of available cropland for oil palm and 10% for coconut tree; *** Using 10% of 

available cropland for sugarcane; **** Includes oil palm, coconut, and sugarcane residues - using 30% of available cropland - 10% 

for each crop. 

The local production and use of biomass resources as substitute for fossil-based fuels offers 

many attractive benefits for Liberia. The socio-economic benefits include attracting investment 

opportunities, job creation, rural development, and poverty reduction. Benefits to the 

environment include offsetting the GHG emissions associated with burning fossil fuels, waste 

utilization, and erosion control. However, if not managed properly, biomass resource 

development could have negative environmental impacts such as deforestation, increased GHG 

emissions, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion. The socio-economic and environmental 

implications briefly described in this paper should form the basis of a more detailed study on the 

impact of biomass resources development in order to guide appropriate national policies and 

measures. 

30
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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the Future. United Nations online. Accessed October 2008. 

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http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5821 

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Appendix A. Estimating Food Crop Residues by County 

County level crop production data is only available for rice and cassava from organizations such 

as FAO and the United Nations. Other crop data is available at a national level. The method 

described below is used in this study to disaggregate the national level statistics of crop 

production to county level. Then, crop residues are calculated using a crop-to-residue ratio as 

illustrated previously in Table 1. 

The assumption is made that all families in any one county growing a particular crop have the 

same average yield and corresponding residue. Therefore, by knowing the number of farming 

families in a county and the percentage of families that grow a particular crop (Table 15), that 

county’s contribution to the entire country’s production can be calculated and the resulting 

residues estimated. For example: There are about 1,556 families growing rice in Bomi County 

(2,551 * 0.61). Dividing that number by the total number of families growing rice in Liberia 

(206,503) gives us the percentage of rice growing families in Bomi County from all rice growing 

families in Liberia (0.75%). This percentage is then multiplied by the country’s rice production of 

110,000 tonnes/year to give us the production of rice in Bomi County (829 tonnes/year). Further, 

applying crop to residue ratios (Table 1) gives us the amount of rice straw (325 dry tonnes/year) 

and husk (197 dry tonnes/year) in Bomi County, or total of 521 dry tonnes of crop residues per 

year (Table 2). 

Another method to estimate the food crop production and residues by county is using the 

number of farming families, the farm size for each crop, and average crop yield. However, farm 

size and yield data in Liberia is available only for rice and cassava with a great uncertainty. 

Because the available information on average farm size (Table 15) doesn’t indicate what portion 

of the farm is used to grow each crop, the results using this method may be misleading, and is 

therefore presented only as a reference. 

Table 15. Farming Families Growing Food Crops in Liberia, 2005 

Source: FAO 2006; UNWFP - CFSNS 2006 

34
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix B. Estimating Cash Crop Residues by County 

Considering that cash crops in Liberia, other than rubber and oil palm, are grown predominately 

on a range of small-, medium-, and large-scale production systems, the study uses a similar 

method for estimating the cash crop residues by county as the one described in Appendix A for 

food crops. Table 16 illustrates the number of farming families in Liberia growing different cash 

crops. 

Table 16. Farming Families Growing Cash Crops in Liberia, 2005 

Source: FAO 2006; UNWFP - CFSNS 2006 

Rubber. Rubber residues are estimated on land occupied by large-scale plantations. As 

mentioned earlier, rubber residues generated by small-scale (household) farms are most likely 

used as firewood or in farm applications. The study estimates that large-scale rubber plantations 

in Liberia today cover an area of approximately 58,000 hectares. This land area was calculated 

using information from government publications and media releases, as summarized below. 

In February 2008, the Liberian government signed a new lease agreement with Firestone on the 

25,000 ha plantation in Margibi County through 2041. The government is also reviewing 

agreements with other rubber companies, including the 14,000 ha LAC, owned by Sofinco of 

Belgium, and the 10,000 ha Guthrie plantation, owned by Synergy Drive Bhd of Malaysia (Bax 

2008). Salala Rubber Corporation will receive long-term financing from the International Finance 

Corporation (a member of the World Bank Group) to rehabilitate and expand its existing 

plantation of 40,000 ha in Margibi County, of which about 2,500 ha were planted before the war 

(Global Security 1985). Cavalla rubber plantation (about 4,000 ha) commenced production in 

May 2006 under the auspices of an interim management team led by the Rubber Planters 

Association of Liberia (RPAL) and Firestone (MOA 2007). Sinoe rubber plantation 

(approximately 2,200 ha) is currently exploited in an unsustainable fashion due to the “slaughter 

tapping” by illegal tappers, and the county has called for investments and incentives to 

reactivate production (Paye-Layleh 2004; Executive Mansion 2008). 

35
 
 

 

 

Oil Palm. Most palm oil is obtained from wild groves and because many of the state-owned 

plantations, largely abandoned during the war, were taken over by the local population for its 

own use, the study mainly considers small household production and it disaggregates it to 

county level using the approach described above. For industrial scale, state-owned plantations, 

the study estimates only the amount of residues that could be available during replanting (trunks 

and fronds). 

36
 
 

 

Appendix C. Estimating Forest Residues by County 

Some of the existing and pending logging contracts spread over two or more counties, in which 

cases GIS and the information presented in Table 6 were used to disaggregate the total 

contracts’ area to county level. Figure 11 illustrates the analysis methodology. Calculations are 

based on the areas suitable for FMCs and TSCs, and include lands that are outside of the 

national forests, existing and proposed protected areas. 

Figure 11. Forest Land Management in Liberia 

37
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Biomass resources meet about 99.5% of the Liberian population’s energy needs so they are vital to basic welfare 

and economic activity. Already, traditional biomass products like firewood and charcoal are the primary energy 

source used for domestic cooking and heating. However, other more efficient biomass technologies are available that 

could open opportunities for agriculture and rural development, and provide other socio-economic and environmental 

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