Agricultural and Forestry Residues as Sustainable Bioenergy Resources in the Republic of the Congo: Quantification, Characterization and Energy Potential Assessment

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Abstract
In the context of increasing energy demand and limited access to clean cooking and heating fuels in the Republic of Congo, agricultural and forestry residues represent a promising resource for energy production. The aim of this study is to identify, quantify and assess the energy potential of the residues generated across eight departments of the Country. Ten residues were characterized: sugarcane bagasse, peanut shells, corn stalks and cobs, rice husks, cassava stalks and peelings, sawdust, wood chips and wood slabs. Proximate analyses were carried out using a muffle furnace and an oven, while the calorific value was estimated using empirical formulas. Results of proximate analysis showed that moisture content ranged between 8.80 ± 0.14 % and 45.17 ± 1.57 %, ash content from 1.00 ± 0.23 to 15.07 ± 0.15 %, volatile matter content from 67.86 ± 0.02 to 82.14 ± 0.14 % and fixed carbon content from 12.13 ± 0.33 to 19.87 ± 0.37 %. The lower calorific value ranged between 14.98 and 18.04 MJ/kg. Approximately 137 921.16 tonnes of available residues were generated in 2025, representing an estimated energy potential of 1876.78 TJ/year. These residues constitute a significant resource for solid biofuel production and decentralized electricity generation.
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