ENERGY • DEVELOPMENT • ENVIRONMENT
The 2011 edition of the Africa Energy Yearbook features articles by leading industry experts and seasoned academics who set out their personal views on how the energy, environment and development sectors can be interlinked to the best advantage of the contintent. The importance of the African contintent cannot be overstated. The size of the potential market means opportunities within the continent are huge, yet the challenges are just as great. And to harness the potential, the challenges must be overcome. Energy services must be developed to enable sustainable growth, but at the same time consideration must be paid for the likely attendant environmental consequences. It is this interelationship between energy, the environment and economic growth that is the underlying theme of the Africa Energy Yearbook 2011.
Reducing Africa's energy poverty
Africa will become a growing feature on the world stage in the coming decade; already its importance as an oil supplier is established. Africa's position in the climate-change debate is perhaps less evident, but still of critical importance if the world is to constrain emissions to manageable levels. Persistent debilitating poverty in Africa is focusing world attention on the effectiveness of aid, with the consequence that greater consideration is being given to the essentials for a functioning state. Without good governance and effective institutions, waste and appropriation arrests progress. But equally, without the energy, transport and communication infrastructure needed for economic growth, Africans will continue to suffer unacceptable levels of poverty.
Competition for Africa's oil and gas resources is receiving increased press coverage. In a number of cases, China is gaining purchase by providing advantageous terms for infrastructure projects, which of course includes power projects. Expanding power provision is an essential development objective. Expensive electricity efficiency will lock large sectors of Africa's population in poverty. The existing situation is that – whatever estimate is used, be it 20%, 25% or even 30% – a significant level of population in sub-Saharan Africa is without access to on-grid electricity. This is a situation that cannot continue. Western governments and corporations could pay greater attention to facilitating power projects.
There is a flip side to a necessary expansion of electricity provision in Africa, and this is where the environment comes in to play. To provide electricity for even 75% of sub-Saharan Africa's population would require a massive expansion of generating capacity with severe environmental consequences. Carbon emissions associated with the increased power consumption on the African continent would be devastating. Whatever climate-change protocols are adopted, emissions of this magnitude would be unacceptable.
It would also be unacceptable to deny Africa the power it requires for sustainable economic growth. The extensive use of electricity across Africa would have the added advantage of reducing the consumption of wood fuel, benefiting the health of the rural population and the environment. Preserving Africa’s forest is important. Major international assistance is needed to provide the technology to mitigate the associated greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy would have to increasingly feature.
It is the objective of the Africa Energy Yearbook to assist the process of policy making by outlining current thought.
Contact Amy Offord for further details.