Case study

West & Central Africa residues

An anonymised origination screen across Western and Central Africa, separating broad residue availability from practical first-cargo potential through risk, sustainability, port access and counterparty-readiness checks.

Map of Western and Central Africa showing screened countries and priority biomass residue regions.
Western and Central Africa screening region, showing the geography behind the residue-origination process.
At a glance
381
companies investigated
20 countries
regional screen
9 categories
biomass types reviewed
8 potentials
final opportunity set

Challenge

Identify which biomass residues in Western and Central Africa could credibly become large-scale, sustainable import pathways — not just on paper, but through real counterparties, workable logistics, suitable ports, plant-health checks, sustainability diligence and realistic first-cargo planning.

What we did

  • Screened 381 companies across 20 countries and nine biomass categories.
  • Built a staged funnel from first screening to second screening, shortlist and final potentials.
  • Prioritised residues with scale, density, sustainability logic and port access.
  • Focused the final opportunity set on shea cake and de-oiled cashew shell/cake.
  • Screened out lower-fit options including RSPO PKS, bamboo, bagasse, cocoa, groundnut, macadamia and inland wood-pellet prospects.
  • Developed port, FOB/CIF, aggregation and first-cargo logic for the strongest pathways.
  • Framed field due diligence around supplier visits, product samples, port checks, GHG data capture and end-to-end traceability.
Screening funnel
381
companies investigated
20
countries screened
9
biomass categories reviewed
65
second-screened
23
shortlisted
8
final potentials
Close-up of cashew shell residue reviewed as part of biomass screening.
Cashew shell residue sample reviewed during material and handling assessment.

Key results

  • 381 companies investigated across 20 countries.
  • 65 companies passed second screening.
  • 23 companies shortlisted.
  • 8 final potentials identified.
  • Shea cake and de-oiled cashew shell/cake emerged as the strongest realistic opportunities.
  • Field-audit plan created to move from desk research to supplier validation, sampling, logistics and GHG assessment.
  • Port pathways and contract structures were framed around reducing execution risk, including FOB/CIF options.

Outcome

A ranked origination map for Western and Central Africa that separated theoretical biomass availability from practical first-cargo potential. The work identified shea cake and de-oiled cashew shell/cake as the most credible near-term residue pathways, while defining the due diligence, port, sampling, sustainability and GHG steps needed before any responsible large-scale procurement decision.

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