1st April 2026
By Marc Belemsobgo
WASCAL unveiled the findings of the BIO2H-Burkina project during the final results workshop held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, under the chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, Yacouba Zabré Gouba. The study aimed to assess the potential for green hydrogen production from bioenergy and to provide evidence and insights to inform national dialogue on bioenergy, biodigester technologies, and the sector’s future development.
The workshop brought together government representatives, research institutions, technical structures, bioenergy stakeholders, and experts.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, Executive Director of WASCAL, stated that the meeting was a key moment for Burkina Faso as it provided a strategic platform for a critical review, collective reflection, and national dialogue. He emphasized that the final workshop was intended not only to present the synthesis report, but also to gather technical inputs from stakeholders and help shape practical recommendations for future decisions.
“For WASCAL, this meeting is an important moment. It provides a space for critical review and collective reflection. I hope that today’s discussions will be rich and constructive and will help generate relevant recommendations for Burkina Faso”. He spoke.
In his address, the Honourable Minister, Yacouba Zabré Gouba, highlighted the relevance of the BIO2H-Burkina project, noting that it addresses critical issues for the country. He called for a new momentum built on a better understanding of national potential, technological innovation, local value addition, and the valorisation of domestic resources.
“This project represents both a scientific and a technological opportunity. It addresses issues that are essential to our energy future: bioenergy resources and technologies, the use of biodigesters, and the potential for green hydrogen production at different scales in Burkina Faso. It therefore provides us with a solid analytical basis for considering, in a methodical way, solutions adapted to our national realities”. He said.
Representing the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), Mrs Kerstin Annassi commended the Government of Burkina Faso for its commitment to research, innovation, and sustainable development, and praised WASCAL for its leadership in implementing the BIO2H-Burkina project.
“Lasting progress in energy transition, climate resilience, and sustainable development depends on science, innovation, and cooperation,” she stated.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the official handover of the synthesis report by WASCAL to the Minister. This act symbolised national ownership of the study results and demonstrated how research findings are formally integrated into policy discussions in Burkina Faso.
At a time when Burkina Faso, like many countries in West Africa, is seeking resilient and transformative energy solutions rooted in local realities, the BIO2H-Burkina report offers an important basis for reflection on how bioenergy and green hydrogen can contribute to the country’s sustainable development ambitions.
