The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literature
AbstractBiofuels as a substitute for conventional aviation and motor vehicle fuels have received considerable global interest over the past decades mainly due to their perceived economic, social, and environmental benefits. Despite these economic benefits, most developing countries, including South...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311916.2023.2192328 |
| _version_ | 1797299290387775488 |
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| author | Mvelase L.M. Ferrer S.R.D Mustapha N |
| author_facet | Mvelase L.M. Ferrer S.R.D Mustapha N |
| author_sort | Mvelase L.M. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractBiofuels as a substitute for conventional aviation and motor vehicle fuels have received considerable global interest over the past decades mainly due to their perceived economic, social, and environmental benefits. Despite these economic benefits, most developing countries, including South Africa (SA), have yet to produce commercial biofuels. This study aims to inform South African policymakers. Prospective producers of biofuels about the potential socio-economic returns from producing biofuels at a commercial level through a structured rapid review of the literature differs from the peer-reviewed studies to date in South Africa, which focussed more on assessing the economic viability and environmental impacts of biofuels production. The systematic review methodology was used. About 48% of the published empirical studies reviewed integrated the socio-economic and environmental impact assessment, followed by studies that only examined the social impacts of biofuel (about 26%), about 15% of the studies examined economic impact only, and 11.54% examined the socio-economic impact. The results revealed that although the production of biofuels is associated with a positive socio-economic benefit, the biofuel industry is not viable without government support and the selling price of biofuel is not competitive relative to gasoline and petroleum alternatives. Lastly, the results revealed a need for more objective empirical studies in South Africa that can quantify the economy-wide implications of biofuels (especially second-generation biofuels) production. Only two (n = 2) of the 28 reviewed studies were conducted in South Africa from 28 studies reviewed. Both studies conducted in South Africa were feasibility studies focusing more on bioethanol; no study quantified the economy-wide impacts. The study recommends the implementation of the biofuels support mechanism by the government. Furthermore, amendments to the existing biofuels regulatory framework are recommended in order to support the production of advanced biofuels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:47:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b2d0461221f4d09800f7b4a7918688e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-1916 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:47:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b2d0461221f4d09800f7b4a7918688e2024-02-23T15:01:39ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Engineering2331-19162023-12-0110110.1080/23311916.2023.2192328The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literatureMvelase L.M.0Ferrer S.R.D1Mustapha N2Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South AfricaDiscipline of Agricultural Economics, School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, 3209Scottsville, South AfricaCentre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South AfricaAbstractBiofuels as a substitute for conventional aviation and motor vehicle fuels have received considerable global interest over the past decades mainly due to their perceived economic, social, and environmental benefits. Despite these economic benefits, most developing countries, including South Africa (SA), have yet to produce commercial biofuels. This study aims to inform South African policymakers. Prospective producers of biofuels about the potential socio-economic returns from producing biofuels at a commercial level through a structured rapid review of the literature differs from the peer-reviewed studies to date in South Africa, which focussed more on assessing the economic viability and environmental impacts of biofuels production. The systematic review methodology was used. About 48% of the published empirical studies reviewed integrated the socio-economic and environmental impact assessment, followed by studies that only examined the social impacts of biofuel (about 26%), about 15% of the studies examined economic impact only, and 11.54% examined the socio-economic impact. The results revealed that although the production of biofuels is associated with a positive socio-economic benefit, the biofuel industry is not viable without government support and the selling price of biofuel is not competitive relative to gasoline and petroleum alternatives. Lastly, the results revealed a need for more objective empirical studies in South Africa that can quantify the economy-wide implications of biofuels (especially second-generation biofuels) production. Only two (n = 2) of the 28 reviewed studies were conducted in South Africa from 28 studies reviewed. Both studies conducted in South Africa were feasibility studies focusing more on bioethanol; no study quantified the economy-wide impacts. The study recommends the implementation of the biofuels support mechanism by the government. Furthermore, amendments to the existing biofuels regulatory framework are recommended in order to support the production of advanced biofuels.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311916.2023.2192328BiofuelsSocio-economicSouth AfricaImpact Assessment, Bioethanol, Biodiesel |
| spellingShingle | Mvelase L.M. Ferrer S.R.D Mustapha N The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literature Cogent Engineering Biofuels Socio-economic South Africa Impact Assessment, Bioethanol, Biodiesel |
| title | The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literature |
| title_full | The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literature |
| title_fullStr | The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literature |
| title_short | The socio-economic impact assessment of biofuels production in South Africa: A rapid structured review of literature |
| title_sort | socio economic impact assessment of biofuels production in south africa a rapid structured review of literature |
| topic | Biofuels Socio-economic South Africa Impact Assessment, Bioethanol, Biodiesel |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311916.2023.2192328 |
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