2 African Energy Challenges in the Transition Era …
43
Africa Rift Valley presents an estimated 15 GW of geothermal capacity.
Although the larger sum is mainly in Ethiopia and Kenya. More so, the
region has the greatest hydropower energy resource in the world because
of the Congo and the Nile Rivers. The hydropower energy that can be
harnessed is estimated at about 350 GW, situated largely in Angola,
Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and
Gabon.
19
In terms of its fossil energy resource, the SSA region is rich in its
variety ranging from petroleum, coal and gas. Its oil and gas discoveries
have been estimated at about 400GW of natural gas potential alone.
Whereas, coal resources are estimated at about 300 GW, comprising
mainly in Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa.
20 More so, there
are significant well-developed petroleum production infrastructures that
have not translated into affordable, reliable electricity supply for low
access countries like Nigeria and Angola. The advantage of the character
of SSA is such that, its potential renewable zones are coincidentally close
to existing transmission infrastructure and major loads centres.
This suggests that there should be a lower transmission upgrade and
extension costs. However, this location advantage enjoyed by countries
in SSA is not yet fully harnessed. The only rational argument for this
mismatch can be attributed to a lack of strong political will and commitment by the individual governments and regional groups. Lack of proper
planning for land use in a dual manner for different energy source is
another inhibitor. For instance, if dual-use initiatives, like the combination of wind power development with available agricultural lands, is
encouraged massively, it will invariably reduce existing conflicts and challenges associated with land use and access.
21 Where necessary, solar and
wind power generation sites can be located around the same area of land
19 A Castellano, A Kendall, M Nikomarov, and T Swemmer, ‘Brighter Africa: The Growth
Potential of the Sub-Saharan Electricity Sector’, McKinsey Report (2015), http://www.mckinsey.
com/industries/electricpower-and-natural-gas/our-insights/powering-africa, accessed February 13,
2020.
20 E Kebede, J Kagochi, and CM Jolly, ‘Energy Consumption and Economic Development in
Sub-Sahara Africa’, (2010) 32 Energy Economics, 532–537.
21 See SG Banerjee, FA Moreno, JE Sinton, T Primiani, and J Seong (n. 16).
43
Africa Rift Valley presents an estimated 15 GW of geothermal capacity.
Although the larger sum is mainly in Ethiopia and Kenya. More so, the
region has the greatest hydropower energy resource in the world because
of the Congo and the Nile Rivers. The hydropower energy that can be
harnessed is estimated at about 350 GW, situated largely in Angola,
Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and
Gabon.
19
In terms of its fossil energy resource, the SSA region is rich in its
variety ranging from petroleum, coal and gas. Its oil and gas discoveries
have been estimated at about 400GW of natural gas potential alone.
Whereas, coal resources are estimated at about 300 GW, comprising
mainly in Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa.
20 More so, there
are significant well-developed petroleum production infrastructures that
have not translated into affordable, reliable electricity supply for low
access countries like Nigeria and Angola. The advantage of the character
of SSA is such that, its potential renewable zones are coincidentally close
to existing transmission infrastructure and major loads centres.
This suggests that there should be a lower transmission upgrade and
extension costs. However, this location advantage enjoyed by countries
in SSA is not yet fully harnessed. The only rational argument for this
mismatch can be attributed to a lack of strong political will and commitment by the individual governments and regional groups. Lack of proper
planning for land use in a dual manner for different energy source is
another inhibitor. For instance, if dual-use initiatives, like the combination of wind power development with available agricultural lands, is
encouraged massively, it will invariably reduce existing conflicts and challenges associated with land use and access.
21 Where necessary, solar and
wind power generation sites can be located around the same area of land
19 A Castellano, A Kendall, M Nikomarov, and T Swemmer, ‘Brighter Africa: The Growth
Potential of the Sub-Saharan Electricity Sector’, McKinsey Report (2015), http://www.mckinsey.
com/industries/electricpower-and-natural-gas/our-insights/powering-africa, accessed February 13,
2020.
20 E Kebede, J Kagochi, and CM Jolly, ‘Energy Consumption and Economic Development in
Sub-Sahara Africa’, (2010) 32 Energy Economics, 532–537.
21 See SG Banerjee, FA Moreno, JE Sinton, T Primiani, and J Seong (n. 16).