3 Energy Transition in Africa: Context, Barriers and Strategies
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energy and fossil fuels. Countries such as Kenya where traditional renewable energy (biomass) dominate their energy mix suffer grave environmental drawbacks including air pollution and land degradation. It was
also evident that although African countries have considerable renewable
energy resources, these barely feature in their energy mix mainly because
they are under-exploited. Fossil energy is seen to be pre-eminent in
high-income homes and the energy-intensive transport, commercial and
industrial sectors except for kerosene which primarily is used in the rural
and low-income households for lighting. The non-oil exporting African
countries like Morocco are heavily dependent on imports of petroleum
products and are thus exposed to the peaks and troughs of energy prices.
In contrast, oil and coal exporting countries are heavily dependent on the
export earnings from oil and coal trade, and their economies would thus
be affected by a transition to a lower carbon economy. Several African
countries have also made recent oil, gas and coal discoveries and are
looking to capitalize them and expand their economies.
Although consumption of energy is still low, individual African countries have elaborate economic development plans for the next decade as
well as energy access commitments. It can thus be surmised that the
contribution of African countries to global GHGs will be much higher
in the coming years. It is from this perspective that the next section will
discuss the problems and barriers such countries will face in transitioning
to a low-carbon economy.
3.3 Barriers to the Energy Transition
Domestic emission reductions and flexibility mechanisms are the
inevitable choices for countries to combat climate change and global
warming and achieve sustainable development under the Kyoto Protocol
and Article 4 of the Paris Agreement. The view is not entirely shared by
African countries which are primarily engrossed with developing their
economies. Currently, African countries only make a small contribution
to GHG. However, with the advent of industrialization, urbanization and capitalization of the new discoveries, their contributions are
projected to increase.
85
energy and fossil fuels. Countries such as Kenya where traditional renewable energy (biomass) dominate their energy mix suffer grave environmental drawbacks including air pollution and land degradation. It was
also evident that although African countries have considerable renewable
energy resources, these barely feature in their energy mix mainly because
they are under-exploited. Fossil energy is seen to be pre-eminent in
high-income homes and the energy-intensive transport, commercial and
industrial sectors except for kerosene which primarily is used in the rural
and low-income households for lighting. The non-oil exporting African
countries like Morocco are heavily dependent on imports of petroleum
products and are thus exposed to the peaks and troughs of energy prices.
In contrast, oil and coal exporting countries are heavily dependent on the
export earnings from oil and coal trade, and their economies would thus
be affected by a transition to a lower carbon economy. Several African
countries have also made recent oil, gas and coal discoveries and are
looking to capitalize them and expand their economies.
Although consumption of energy is still low, individual African countries have elaborate economic development plans for the next decade as
well as energy access commitments. It can thus be surmised that the
contribution of African countries to global GHGs will be much higher
in the coming years. It is from this perspective that the next section will
discuss the problems and barriers such countries will face in transitioning
to a low-carbon economy.
3.3 Barriers to the Energy Transition
Domestic emission reductions and flexibility mechanisms are the
inevitable choices for countries to combat climate change and global
warming and achieve sustainable development under the Kyoto Protocol
and Article 4 of the Paris Agreement. The view is not entirely shared by
African countries which are primarily engrossed with developing their
economies. Currently, African countries only make a small contribution
to GHG. However, with the advent of industrialization, urbanization and capitalization of the new discoveries, their contributions are
projected to increase.