212
C. Nabukalu and R. Giere
The supply of electricity is less dependable (Drazu, Olweny, &
Kazoora, 2015; Pesa, 2017; Goswami, 2018) because its highly centralized generation involves high capital costs for equipment and infrastructure for its distribution and, despite the fact that it is subsidized in
final markets, equipment failure on the supply side leads to unplanned
power outages or blackouts. By contrast, in informal enterprises, within
Uganda’s charcoal trade, we observed that one could freely cut trees on
one’s private land and venture into the charcoal trade, despite regulatory
bans. Charcoal production requires minimal access to financial capital
because entrepreneurial middlemen play a significant role in locating
and paying landowners and skilled producers, and in trading their goods
to final markets, which contributes to charcoal’s continuous supply and
trade alongside electricity, as a competing fuel choice in the market,
especially in urban centres.
6.7 Beyond Market Dynamics:
Infrastructural Barriers
to the Consumption of Modern Energy
Alternatives in Africa
Over the past three decades, the energy-supply mix of the sub-Saharan
region has increasingly moved towards centralized electric generation.
In many African development policies, the future of energy supply is
strategically planned to revolve around more electrification. In 2019,
Power Africa confirmed 126 projects for 10,470 MW capacity, valued
at USD 20 billion, to power over 60 million homes and businesses
by 2030. These include, for example, solar, wind, natural gas and
hydropower, mostly in West, East and Southern Africa. Of all countries, Nigeria’s planned generation is one of the most ambitious ones
(3034 MW), second only to South Africa (3180 MW). Other key
charcoal-producing countries, such as Tanzania, Namibia and Ghana
are at the forefront of these developments, with planned generation at
672 MW, 107 MW, 550 MW, respectively Power Africa, 2019). Gridline
infrastructure extends increasingly to rural areas for the rigorous pursuit
C. Nabukalu and R. Giere
The supply of electricity is less dependable (Drazu, Olweny, &
Kazoora, 2015; Pesa, 2017; Goswami, 2018) because its highly centralized generation involves high capital costs for equipment and infrastructure for its distribution and, despite the fact that it is subsidized in
final markets, equipment failure on the supply side leads to unplanned
power outages or blackouts. By contrast, in informal enterprises, within
Uganda’s charcoal trade, we observed that one could freely cut trees on
one’s private land and venture into the charcoal trade, despite regulatory
bans. Charcoal production requires minimal access to financial capital
because entrepreneurial middlemen play a significant role in locating
and paying landowners and skilled producers, and in trading their goods
to final markets, which contributes to charcoal’s continuous supply and
trade alongside electricity, as a competing fuel choice in the market,
especially in urban centres.
6.7 Beyond Market Dynamics:
Infrastructural Barriers
to the Consumption of Modern Energy
Alternatives in Africa
Over the past three decades, the energy-supply mix of the sub-Saharan
region has increasingly moved towards centralized electric generation.
In many African development policies, the future of energy supply is
strategically planned to revolve around more electrification. In 2019,
Power Africa confirmed 126 projects for 10,470 MW capacity, valued
at USD 20 billion, to power over 60 million homes and businesses
by 2030. These include, for example, solar, wind, natural gas and
hydropower, mostly in West, East and Southern Africa. Of all countries, Nigeria’s planned generation is one of the most ambitious ones
(3034 MW), second only to South Africa (3180 MW). Other key
charcoal-producing countries, such as Tanzania, Namibia and Ghana
are at the forefront of these developments, with planned generation at
672 MW, 107 MW, 550 MW, respectively Power Africa, 2019). Gridline
infrastructure extends increasingly to rural areas for the rigorous pursuit