2 African Energy Challenges in the Transition Era …
39
faced on the continent, scholars have questioned the readiness of African
countries to bid farewell to fossil fuels in this energy transition era.
8
The African governments’ failure to strengthen energy generation,
invest and maintain energy infrastructure, and increase capacity for
distribution has further added new challenges to the already existing critical energy situation in Africa. Also, energy affordability is hampered due
to low per capita incomes, inefficient and costly forms of energy supply;
electricity prices are very high by world standards which in turn, affects
major African industries negatively like the mining sectors.
9
These energy challenges exemplified in access deficit to electricity
power is in marked contrast with the huge presence of different energy
source in many African regions. For example, across all of Africa, there is
an adequate solar energy source. Hydropower capacity that can produce
over 300 gigawatts of electricity energy in many African countries.
10
Along with coastal areas in Africa, wind power can be harnessed, and
geothermal energy can be exploited in the East African Rift Valley.
11 All
of these sources of energy can contribute greatly to satisfying the rapidly
increasing demand for energy within the continent.
Despite these sources of energy, Africa still grapples with the challenges of achieving energy access for all region. Majority of the people
on the African continent especially in rural areas are still relying on traditional energy such as firewood, charcoal and candles.
12 The issue is that
energy investments require huge financial capital investments and most
African countries cannot shoulder such enormous financial expenditure
on their balance sheets due to their low GDP level. It is upon these
bases that this work seeks to explore the role of regional cooperation in
addressing energy challenges particularly Economic Community of West
8 VR Nalule, ‘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)
(Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020).
9 E Gnasounou, H Bayem, D Bednyagin, and J Dong, ‘Strategies for Regional Integration of
Electricity Supply in West Africa’ (2007) 35 Energy Policy, 4142–4153.
10 See J Morrissey (n. 4).
11 Ibid.
12 VR Nalule, Energy Poverty and Access Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Regionalism
(Springer, 2018).
39
faced on the continent, scholars have questioned the readiness of African
countries to bid farewell to fossil fuels in this energy transition era.
8
The African governments’ failure to strengthen energy generation,
invest and maintain energy infrastructure, and increase capacity for
distribution has further added new challenges to the already existing critical energy situation in Africa. Also, energy affordability is hampered due
to low per capita incomes, inefficient and costly forms of energy supply;
electricity prices are very high by world standards which in turn, affects
major African industries negatively like the mining sectors.
9
These energy challenges exemplified in access deficit to electricity
power is in marked contrast with the huge presence of different energy
source in many African regions. For example, across all of Africa, there is
an adequate solar energy source. Hydropower capacity that can produce
over 300 gigawatts of electricity energy in many African countries.
10
Along with coastal areas in Africa, wind power can be harnessed, and
geothermal energy can be exploited in the East African Rift Valley.
11 All
of these sources of energy can contribute greatly to satisfying the rapidly
increasing demand for energy within the continent.
Despite these sources of energy, Africa still grapples with the challenges of achieving energy access for all region. Majority of the people
on the African continent especially in rural areas are still relying on traditional energy such as firewood, charcoal and candles.
12 The issue is that
energy investments require huge financial capital investments and most
African countries cannot shoulder such enormous financial expenditure
on their balance sheets due to their low GDP level. It is upon these
bases that this work seeks to explore the role of regional cooperation in
addressing energy challenges particularly Economic Community of West
8 VR Nalule, ‘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)
(Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020).
9 E Gnasounou, H Bayem, D Bednyagin, and J Dong, ‘Strategies for Regional Integration of
Electricity Supply in West Africa’ (2007) 35 Energy Policy, 4142–4153.
10 See J Morrissey (n. 4).
11 Ibid.
12 VR Nalule, Energy Poverty and Access Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Regionalism
(Springer, 2018).