22
V. R. Nalule
wood and waterpower to coal in the nineteenth century, or from coal
to oil in the twentieth.
44 On the contrary, in developing countries such
as those in SSA, many homes in rural communities are still relying on
traditional biomass. With the anticipated industrialization and urbanization, these countries will need massive energy, including fossil fuels, to
tackle their energy needs. The importance of fossil fuels in industrialization is evidenced in developed countries and their reaction to disruption
in energy supply. For instance, historically, developed countries such as
the United Kingdom were heavily reliant on coal to the extent that
when faced with a ‘coal panic’ in the late nineteenth century, robust
solutions were suggested including the urging of military strategists to
seize control of coal reserves in foreign lands; and the urging of companies to drive their workers harder to increase the domestic production
of coal.
45 These suggested solutions were however rejected not only by
unions inside Britain but also other colonial powers.
46
With energy progression, we note that developing and developed
countries face different energy challenges. For instance, whereas in developed countries the use of biomass such as charcoal and firewood is
predominantly historical and a topic of the nineteenth century, developing countries such as those in SSA, in contrast, on the other hand,
are still struggling with a reliance on traditional energy.
47 The focus
of SSA countries is access to electricity. We note that electricity in its
natural form tends to appear as lighting and static, the technological
advances have enabled primary sources of energy such as coal, nuclear
power, running water and of late renewable energy sources to provide
this electricity. In this respect, for a country with more than 80% of the
population lacking electricity, the focus will not entirely be on the kind
of primary energy used to provide this electricity, but instead on ensuring
that people shift from wood and biomass usage.
44 Bridge, G., Bouzarovski, S., Bradshaw, M. and Eyre, N., 2013. Geographies of Energy
Transition: Space, Place and the Low-Carbon Economy. Energy Policy 53: 331–340.
45 Podobnik, B., 2006. Global Energy Shifts: Fostering Sustainability in a Turbulent Age. The
Energy and Resources Institute, TERI Press.
46 Ibid.
47 Nalule, V.R., 2020. Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy: Is Africa Ready to Bid Farewell
to Fossil Fuels? In The Palgrave Handbook of Managing Fossil Fuels and Energy Transitions
(pp. 261–286). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
V. R. Nalule
wood and waterpower to coal in the nineteenth century, or from coal
to oil in the twentieth.
44 On the contrary, in developing countries such
as those in SSA, many homes in rural communities are still relying on
traditional biomass. With the anticipated industrialization and urbanization, these countries will need massive energy, including fossil fuels, to
tackle their energy needs. The importance of fossil fuels in industrialization is evidenced in developed countries and their reaction to disruption
in energy supply. For instance, historically, developed countries such as
the United Kingdom were heavily reliant on coal to the extent that
when faced with a ‘coal panic’ in the late nineteenth century, robust
solutions were suggested including the urging of military strategists to
seize control of coal reserves in foreign lands; and the urging of companies to drive their workers harder to increase the domestic production
of coal.
45 These suggested solutions were however rejected not only by
unions inside Britain but also other colonial powers.
46
With energy progression, we note that developing and developed
countries face different energy challenges. For instance, whereas in developed countries the use of biomass such as charcoal and firewood is
predominantly historical and a topic of the nineteenth century, developing countries such as those in SSA, in contrast, on the other hand,
are still struggling with a reliance on traditional energy.
47 The focus
of SSA countries is access to electricity. We note that electricity in its
natural form tends to appear as lighting and static, the technological
advances have enabled primary sources of energy such as coal, nuclear
power, running water and of late renewable energy sources to provide
this electricity. In this respect, for a country with more than 80% of the
population lacking electricity, the focus will not entirely be on the kind
of primary energy used to provide this electricity, but instead on ensuring
that people shift from wood and biomass usage.
44 Bridge, G., Bouzarovski, S., Bradshaw, M. and Eyre, N., 2013. Geographies of Energy
Transition: Space, Place and the Low-Carbon Economy. Energy Policy 53: 331–340.
45 Podobnik, B., 2006. Global Energy Shifts: Fostering Sustainability in a Turbulent Age. The
Energy and Resources Institute, TERI Press.
46 Ibid.
47 Nalule, V.R., 2020. Transitioning to a Low Carbon Economy: Is Africa Ready to Bid Farewell
to Fossil Fuels? In The Palgrave Handbook of Managing Fossil Fuels and Energy Transitions
(pp. 261–286). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.