2 African Energy Challenges in the Transition Era …
45
equal or exceed those in urban settlements. More than 30% of Africa’s
proven recoverable crude oil reserves (3017 Million tonnes) are located
scattered across the ECOWAS region. 31% of African natural gas reserves
proved recoverable are also scattered across this region.
27
In terms of renewable energy source, there are said to be approximately
23,900 MW of hydropower potential. Regrettably, only 16% of such
hydropower potential energy resource us exploited. Solar energy source
is not left out in the energy resource base in the ECOWAS region. About
5 KWh/m 2 /day of solar energy renewable source can be exploited by
Member State.
28 In some locations, wind speed is estimated at 5–6 m/s.
Whereas, potential biomass reserve is huge across the ECOWA region.
29
However, these energy resources are unevenly distributed across the
ECOWAS Member States. 90–95% of hydrocarbon potential is situated in Nigeria, the most populous country in both the ECOWAS
region and Africa.
30 Despite the high energy potential in the ECOWAS
region, it ranks very poorly in relation to other parts of the world
in access to modern energy services. No doubt that lack of access to
modern energy imposes significant productivity constraints, the provision of social services and the fight against poverty. In this area, some
ECOWAS Member States have not been able to achieve even 30% of
efficiency level regarding access to affordable energy services despite their
enormous energy resource potential.
31
27 SV Lall, JV Henderson, and AJ Venables, Africa’s Cities: Opening Doors to the World
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2017).
28 IEG (Independent Evaluation Group), Reliable and Affordable Off -Grid Electricity Services for
the Poor: Lessons from the World Bank Group Experience (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2016).
29 M Hallward-Driemeier and G Nayyar, Trouble in the Making? The Future of ManufacturingLed Development (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2018).
30 Ibid, p. 15.
31 T Regan, D Nigmatulina, N Baruah, F Rauch & G Michaels, ‘Sites and Services and Slum
Upgrading in Tanzania’, in The Annual Bank Conference on Africa: Managing the Challenges and
Opportunities of Urbanization in Africa (Oxford, UK, July 13, 2016).
45
equal or exceed those in urban settlements. More than 30% of Africa’s
proven recoverable crude oil reserves (3017 Million tonnes) are located
scattered across the ECOWAS region. 31% of African natural gas reserves
proved recoverable are also scattered across this region.
27
In terms of renewable energy source, there are said to be approximately
23,900 MW of hydropower potential. Regrettably, only 16% of such
hydropower potential energy resource us exploited. Solar energy source
is not left out in the energy resource base in the ECOWAS region. About
5 KWh/m 2 /day of solar energy renewable source can be exploited by
Member State.
28 In some locations, wind speed is estimated at 5–6 m/s.
Whereas, potential biomass reserve is huge across the ECOWA region.
29
However, these energy resources are unevenly distributed across the
ECOWAS Member States. 90–95% of hydrocarbon potential is situated in Nigeria, the most populous country in both the ECOWAS
region and Africa.
30 Despite the high energy potential in the ECOWAS
region, it ranks very poorly in relation to other parts of the world
in access to modern energy services. No doubt that lack of access to
modern energy imposes significant productivity constraints, the provision of social services and the fight against poverty. In this area, some
ECOWAS Member States have not been able to achieve even 30% of
efficiency level regarding access to affordable energy services despite their
enormous energy resource potential.
31
27 SV Lall, JV Henderson, and AJ Venables, Africa’s Cities: Opening Doors to the World
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2017).
28 IEG (Independent Evaluation Group), Reliable and Affordable Off -Grid Electricity Services for
the Poor: Lessons from the World Bank Group Experience (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2016).
29 M Hallward-Driemeier and G Nayyar, Trouble in the Making? The Future of ManufacturingLed Development (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2018).
30 Ibid, p. 15.
31 T Regan, D Nigmatulina, N Baruah, F Rauch & G Michaels, ‘Sites and Services and Slum
Upgrading in Tanzania’, in The Annual Bank Conference on Africa: Managing the Challenges and
Opportunities of Urbanization in Africa (Oxford, UK, July 13, 2016).