2 African Energy Challenges in the Transition Era …
41
these energy challenges because of certain geographical, economic, security, regulatory and capacity factors that often determine the success of
the overall energy exploration, exploitation and distribution.
The question at this juncture is how and in what areas should these
regional organizations cooperate to tackle the existing energy challenges
to bring it to an energy thriving environment for the eradication of
poverty. Thus, the remainder of this chapter shall be examining the
ideology and philosophy behind their formation, their policy framework and their energy programmes. Section 2.2 shall examine the energy
landscape for each region in general. It will further explore the various
energy challenges from region-specific context. Section 2.4 will examine
the areas that require the role of regional cooperation in the various
regions that this work seeks to cover. This work shall draw conclusions
in Sect. 2.5.
2.2 Overview of the Character of Energy
Resource in Sub-Saharan Africa Through
the Lens of Ecowas and SADC Regions
Both Southern and Western African countries largely depend on thermal
power energy source for a generation. These have become obsolete
and make electricity costs in these regions among the highest in the
world. Transmission and distribution losses are very high, which leads
to further problems in the energy market. Large power plants are the
most cost-effective way of generating electricity that distributes to a
wide population, within and between countries at both SADC and
ECOWAS Member States, allowing for economies of scale. However,
due to the evolving nature for both region’s energy markets and its size,
costly small-scale power systems tend to dominate the power generation
industry.
15
Although it affords the power systems to connect remote areas to the
national grid, they often result in ‘higher transmission and distribution
15 A Cartwright, ‘Better Growth, Better Cities: Rethinking and Redirecting Urbanization in
Africa’, New Climate Economy—Working Paper (London and Washington, DC, 2015).
41
these energy challenges because of certain geographical, economic, security, regulatory and capacity factors that often determine the success of
the overall energy exploration, exploitation and distribution.
The question at this juncture is how and in what areas should these
regional organizations cooperate to tackle the existing energy challenges
to bring it to an energy thriving environment for the eradication of
poverty. Thus, the remainder of this chapter shall be examining the
ideology and philosophy behind their formation, their policy framework and their energy programmes. Section 2.2 shall examine the energy
landscape for each region in general. It will further explore the various
energy challenges from region-specific context. Section 2.4 will examine
the areas that require the role of regional cooperation in the various
regions that this work seeks to cover. This work shall draw conclusions
in Sect. 2.5.
2.2 Overview of the Character of Energy
Resource in Sub-Saharan Africa Through
the Lens of Ecowas and SADC Regions
Both Southern and Western African countries largely depend on thermal
power energy source for a generation. These have become obsolete
and make electricity costs in these regions among the highest in the
world. Transmission and distribution losses are very high, which leads
to further problems in the energy market. Large power plants are the
most cost-effective way of generating electricity that distributes to a
wide population, within and between countries at both SADC and
ECOWAS Member States, allowing for economies of scale. However,
due to the evolving nature for both region’s energy markets and its size,
costly small-scale power systems tend to dominate the power generation
industry.
15
Although it affords the power systems to connect remote areas to the
national grid, they often result in ‘higher transmission and distribution
15 A Cartwright, ‘Better Growth, Better Cities: Rethinking and Redirecting Urbanization in
Africa’, New Climate Economy—Working Paper (London and Washington, DC, 2015).