1 How to Respond to Energy Transitions in Africa …
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coal plant capacity to respond to the negative impacts of the COVID19 pandemic. Statistics indicate that China approved the construction
of more coal power plant capacity in the period to mid-June than in all
of 2018 and 2019 combined.
16 Additionally, most African countries are
still reliant on fossil fuels to meet their energy demand. In South Africa,
for instance, most of the electricity is powered by coal. However, the
country’s coal-fired fleet is ageing, and as such, there are efforts to diversify the power mix by introducing natural gas and renewables, including
concentrating solar power (CSP).
Taking stock of the above, we note that there are mixed signals
concerning energy transitions. With the global energy transition debate,
African countries are not only worrying about a decline in fossil fuel
investments; but they must plan for decommissioning. The future of the
African energy sector in the Energy Transition era, therefore, requires
African countries to set up strategies, revise their energy laws and policies
to comply with the energy transition developments. This book, therefore,
highlights the key considerations for African countries concerning developing their extractive sector in the energy transitions era. The book also
introduces the energy progression discussion as an alternative to energy
transitions, especially for African countries.
1.2 The Future and Role of Fossil Fuels
in Africa in the Energy Transition Era
One of the main barriers to energy transition lies in the lack of political will to shift from fossil fuels to renewables. Firstly, most African
countries do not emit much carbon dioxide, as the Sub-Saharan African
(SSA) region as a whole is responsible for just 7.1% of the greenhouse gas
emissions. Secondly, as illustrated in Section one, fossil fuels still have a
significant role to play in tackling energy access challenges on the continent. Although fossil fuels are associated with various environmental
16 Financial Times: China Expands Coal Plant Capacity to Boost the Post-Virus Economy. 24
June 2020. Can be accessed at, https://www.ft.com/content/cdcd8a02-81b5-48f1-a4a5-60a93a
6ffa1e.
7
coal plant capacity to respond to the negative impacts of the COVID19 pandemic. Statistics indicate that China approved the construction
of more coal power plant capacity in the period to mid-June than in all
of 2018 and 2019 combined.
16 Additionally, most African countries are
still reliant on fossil fuels to meet their energy demand. In South Africa,
for instance, most of the electricity is powered by coal. However, the
country’s coal-fired fleet is ageing, and as such, there are efforts to diversify the power mix by introducing natural gas and renewables, including
concentrating solar power (CSP).
Taking stock of the above, we note that there are mixed signals
concerning energy transitions. With the global energy transition debate,
African countries are not only worrying about a decline in fossil fuel
investments; but they must plan for decommissioning. The future of the
African energy sector in the Energy Transition era, therefore, requires
African countries to set up strategies, revise their energy laws and policies
to comply with the energy transition developments. This book, therefore,
highlights the key considerations for African countries concerning developing their extractive sector in the energy transitions era. The book also
introduces the energy progression discussion as an alternative to energy
transitions, especially for African countries.
1.2 The Future and Role of Fossil Fuels
in Africa in the Energy Transition Era
One of the main barriers to energy transition lies in the lack of political will to shift from fossil fuels to renewables. Firstly, most African
countries do not emit much carbon dioxide, as the Sub-Saharan African
(SSA) region as a whole is responsible for just 7.1% of the greenhouse gas
emissions. Secondly, as illustrated in Section one, fossil fuels still have a
significant role to play in tackling energy access challenges on the continent. Although fossil fuels are associated with various environmental
16 Financial Times: China Expands Coal Plant Capacity to Boost the Post-Virus Economy. 24
June 2020. Can be accessed at, https://www.ft.com/content/cdcd8a02-81b5-48f1-a4a5-60a93a
6ffa1e.