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The Future is Hydro

Hydropower potential in Africa is substantial. But realizing that potential is difficult. Tapping the power of the Congo River has long fired the imagination of policy makers. Its huge capacity has conjured speculation that Inga could supply power from Cape Town to Cairo. The reality is that it cannot even meet the DRC’s power needs. Why?

Implementation of large hydropower projects is fraught with financial, political, proprietorial, environmental and social difficulties. However, the attraction of producing abundant power from large projects remains, even though smaller-capacity projects are easier and may offer faster prospects for future economic growth.

After some difficulty, Bujagali (200 MW) opened its sluices in 2009, Gibe II (400 MW) in 2010, and other projects are planned for Cameroon, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda and Zambia. And of course the DRC remains a huge potential source of power. About 90% of Africa’s current hydropower is produced in just eight countries, the DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zambia.

It is in the environmental arena that hydropower faces both opportunities and challenges. Hydro’s advantages as a clean renewable energy has increased its attractiveness but only if the geographical and social impact of the project is deemed acceptable. Projects are increasingly the subject of contentious discussion, where it is argued that community displacement and destruction of flora and fauna is too high a price to pay, even for energy with so benign an effect on climate change.

Multilateral organizations are often not prepared to face the criticism associated with large hydropower projects. But if the issues surrounding hydropower can be addressed, it could be an eminently appealing method of generating power.

Contact Rod Cargill for more details.