8.1 Current Status of the Energy
Sector
8.1.1 Role of the Energy Sector
The majority of the population in the country uses biomass
including fuel-wood, charcoal and grass for lighting
and cooking. About 99% and 50% of the population use
these resources for cooking and lighting, respectively.
Modern energy is solely used for lighting purposes with
about 14% of the population using petroleum products
and close to 4% of the population using electricity89.
Biomass will continue to be the dominant source of energy
for some time to come. It is necessary to replace biomass
energy use gradually by modern energy in order to: (i)
promote socio-economic development; (ii) minimize
forest degradation which is a cause for global warming; and
(iii) reduce the hardship as well as health hazards involved
in household activities and hence improve quality of life.
In addition, it is essential to use the fuel-wood, which
entails deforestation, in a sustainable manner through
cost effective resource management and end use
efficiency.