Millions in African countries need power: 'What can we do?'
Millions in African countries need power: 'What can we do?'
AP , Saturday 25 Mar 2023
From Zimbabwe, where many must work at night because it's the only time there is power, to Nigeria where collapses of the grid are frequent, the reliable supply of electricity remains elusive across Africa.
The electricity shortages that plague many of Africa's 54 countries are a serious drain on the continent’s economic growth, energy experts warn.
In recent years South Africa's power generation has become so inadequate that the continent's most developed economy must cope with rolling power blackouts of eight to 10 hours per day.
Africa's sprawling cities have erratic supplies of electricity but large swaths of the continent's rural areas have no power at all. In 2021, 43% of Africans — about 600 million people — lacked access to electricity with 590 million of them in sub‐Saharan Africa, according to the International Energy Agency.
Investments of nearly $20 billion are required annually to achieve universal electrification across sub-Saharan Africa, according to World Bank estimates. Of that figure nearly $10 billion is needed annually bring power and keep it on in West and Central Africa.
There are many reasons for Africa's dire delivery of electricity including ageing infrastructure, lack of government oversight and a shortage of skills to maintain the national grids, according to Andrew Lawrence, an energy expert at the Witwatersrand University Business School in Johannesburg.
A historical problem is that many colonial regimes built electrical systems largely reserved for the minority white population and which excluded large parts of the Black population.
Today many African countries rely on state-owned power utilities.
Much attention has focused in the past two years on the Western-funded “Just Energy Transition,” in which France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union are offering funds to help poorer countries move from highly polluting coal-fired power generation to renewable, environmentally-friendly sources of power. Africa as a region should be among the major beneficiaries in order to expand electricity access on the continent and improve the struggling power grids, said Lawrence.
“The transition should target rural access and place at the forefront the electrification of the continent as a whole. This is something that is technically possible,” he said.
The Western powers vowed to make $8.5 billion available to help South Africa move away from its coal-fired power plants, which produce 80% of the country's power.
As a result of its dependence upon coal, South Africa is among the top 20 highest emitters of planet-warming greenhouse gases in the world and accounts for nearly a third of all of Africa’s emissions, according to experts.
South Africa's plan to move away from coal, however, is hampered by its pressing need to produce as much power as possible each day.
The East African nation of Uganda for years has also grappled with power cuts despite massive investment in electricity generation.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has grappled with an inadequate power supply for many years, generating just 4,000 megawatts though the population of more than 210 million people needs 30,000 megawatts, say experts. The oil-rich but energy-poor West African nation has ramped up investments in the power sector but endemic corruption and mismanagement have resulted in little gains.
In Zimbabwe, electricity shortages that have plagued the country for years have worsened as the state authority that manages Kariba, the country’s biggest dam, has limited power generation due to low water levels.
Successive droughts have reduced Lake Kariba's level so much that the Kariba South Hydro Power Station, which provides Zimbabwe with about 70% of its electricity, is currently producing just 300 megawatts, far less than its capacity of 1,050 megawatts.
Zimbabwe's coal-fired power stations that also provide some electricity have become unreliable due to aging infrastructure marked by frequent breakdowns. The country’s solar potential is yet to be fully developed to meaningfully augment supply.
This means that Harare barber Omar Chienda never knows when he'll have the power needed to run his electric clippers.
“What can we do? We just have to wait until electricity is back but most of the time it comes back at night," said Chienda, a 39-year-old father of three. "That means I can’t work, my family goes hungry.”
In Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, restaurant owner Favour Ben, 29, said she spends a large part of her monthly budget on electricity bills and on petrol for her generator, but adds that she gets only an average of 7 hours of power daily.
“It has been very difficult, especially after paying your electricity bill and they don’t give you light." said Ben. "Most times, I prepare customers’ orders but if there is no light (power for a refrigerator), it turns bad the next day (and) I have lost money for that.”
Businesses in Nigeria suffer an annual loss of $29 billion as a result of unreliable electricity, the World Bank said, with providers of essential services often struggling to keep their operations afloat on generators.
As delegates gathered in Cape Town this month to discuss Africa’s energy challenges, there was a resounding sentiment that drawn-out power shortages on the continent had to be addressed urgently. There was some hope that the Western-funded “Just Energy Transition” would create some opportunities, but many remained skeptical.
Among the biggest critics of efforts to have countries like South Africa to transition quickly from the use of coal to cleaner energy is South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe.
He is among those advocating that Africa use all sources available to it to produce adequate power for the continent, including natural gas, solar, wind, hydropower and especially coal.
“Coal will be with us for many years to come. Those who see it as corruption or a road to whatever, they are going to be disappointed for many, many years," said Mantashe. "Coal is going to outlive many of us.”
Millions in African countries need power: 'What can we do?' - Africa - World - Ahram Online
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Food production consumes 85% of water in developing countries: Egypt irrigation minister
Aya Salah , Thursday 23 Mar 2023
Food production consumes more than 85 percent of the water in developing countries and about 70 percent of the water worldwide, Egypt’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Hani Sweilam said on Thursday at the UN 2023 Water Conference.
Sweilam’s remarks came during his participation as Minister of Irrigation and Chairman of the African Ministers of Water Council (AMCAW) in the session on "Ensuring the availability of water sustainably", – which is organised by the African Union Commission and the Office of the United Nations Special Adviser for Africa, in cooperation with (AMCAW) – within the activities of the "United Nations Conference to Review midterm" in New York.
During the session, Sweilam stressed the importance of water in achieving development in the African continent in light of the direct impact of water on the social and economic dimensions.
The minister highlighted the focus of the African Union's 2063 agenda on ensuring water and food security as a first step to achieving Africa's prosperous aspirations based on comprehensive and sustainable development,
He noted the interdependence of water with achieving other sustainable development goals such as those concerned with eradicating poverty and hunger; preserving health; ensuring the availability of water and sanitation for all; encouraging economic growth and industrialisation; providing job opportunities; reducing inequality; and achieving peace and security.
Sweilam explained that in light of the challenges facing the water sector at the global level and the increase in droughts, floods, and environmental deterioration, the African Water Ministers Council (AMCAW) would seek to promote optimal water management within the national plans of countries through sustainable water planning, improving water services, developing infrastructure and taking measures to increase resilience to climate change.
“This session and the United Nations Water Conference are an opportunity to discuss ways to ensure water security, provide water and sanitation services for people, and discuss measures to implement the results of the 2022 WASSMO report effectively”, Sweilam stated.
“They are also an opportunity to review what has been achieved on the procedures for implementing the Contract of Action, as well as on the outputs of the Dakar Declaration, namely, A Blue Deal for Water Security and Sanitation for Peace and Development,” he said.
He added that the session and the conference also provided an opportunity to discuss the action plan for the “AWARe Action Initiative for Water Resilience” Egypt launched in COP27.
The United Nations General Assembly declared in 2018 that 2018-2028 would be the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development.
Egypt, one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, is paying particular attention to water issues.
It has held five editions of Cairo Water Week to address related challenges.
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Erdogan pledges to ease Iraq's water shortage - did not mention Turkey's dam building projects or explain how he intended to step up the water flows
AFP , Tuesday 21 Mar 2023
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged Tuesday to step up the flow of water along the Tigris River to drought-stricken Iraq for one month.
Baghdad accuses Ankara of withholding water in dams that choke the Tigris and Euphrates rivers near their point of origin in Turkey.
The issue has gained added urgency as the entire region is gripped by a years-long drought that has emptied water reservoirs and threatened food security for millions of people.
Erdogan told Iraq's visiting Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani that he was aware of the "urgent need for water" in Turkey's war-scarred neighbour.
Official Iraqi statistics show the level of the Tigris entering the country last year dropping to just 35 percent of its average over the past century.
"For one month, we have taken the decision to increase the volume of water flowing along the Tigris River," Erdogan told a joint media appearance with Sudani.
"The issue of water will hopefully be resolved," Erdogan said.
Erdogan did not mention Turkey's dam building projects or explain how he intended to step up the water flows.
The Turkish leader also failed to specify why the decision was only taken for one month.
Security concerns
But Erdogan's comments received a warm welcome from the Iraqi premier during his first official visit to Turkey since assuming office last October.
"I want to express my gratitude and thanks to the president from the Iraqi people," Sudani said.
Turkey's relations with its neighbour have also been complicated by the presence of Kurdish insurgents from the PKK group -- recognised as a terror organisation by Ankara and its Western allies -- in the mountainous northern Iraq.
Erdogan repeated his demand for Iraq to recognise the PKK as a terror group.
Sudani said only that Iraq recognised Turkey's security concerns.
"We won't allow Iraq to be used as a launching pad for attacks on Turkey," he said.
Turkey has dozens of military facilities in northern Iraq for use in its war against the PKK.
The PKK's decades-long fight for an independent Kurdish state has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Turkey since 1984.
Erdogan pledges to ease Iraq's water shortage - Region - World - Ahram Online
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Germany looking at green hydrogen imports from Turkey
Turkey is on the list of Germany’s green hydrogen supplier countries in line with the country’s new hydrogen strategy, according to Markus C. Slevogt, the head of the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Turkey) on Tuesday.
Turkey, along with Norway, Iceland, Australia and Chile, has been named as potential suppliers of hydrogen using renewable energy sources, Slevogt told Anadolu Agency (AA).
The German government released a national hydrogen strategy in 2020 under the motto “We are making Germany a hydrogen country.”
In mid-May, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and the Federal Ministry of Transport announced that it would invest 8 billion euros ($9.4 billion) for the development of 62 large-scale hydrogen projects.
In line with this strategy, Germany anticipates an increase in hydrogen demand from about 90 to 110 terawatt-hours by 2030.
Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolyzer powered by electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
To accommodate such demand for these facilities, electrolyzers with a total capacity of up to 5 gigawatts are to be built in Germany by 2030, including offshore and onshore wind energy production required to provide electricity for electrolysis.
With Turkey’s renewables record and hotspots for solar and wind both onshore and offshore, the country is said to be extremely well-positioned to react very quickly to developing renewable hydrogen.
Officials recently said hydrogen production from renewables could pave the way for new opportunities for Turkey’s exports to Europe, its largest market.
Although Turkey currently does not have a national hydrogen strategy, many believe in the potential of having green hydrogen exports over the next 10 years. For instance, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is already in talks with Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry to support such an initiative.
Referring to Turkey’s potential, Slevogt said the country could build on the energy partnership between Germany and Turkey that was established in 2012 into a long-term and stable supply relationship.
“Turkey is currently in the process of drawing up a national hydrogen strategy. In addition to economically advantageous electricity generation costs, which are undoubtedly available in Turkey, safe transport naturally also plays an important role,” he said.
He advocated for the consideration of AHK Turkey, the organization at the heart of this energy partnership, to help establish a German-Turkish company network to boost the hydrogen sector and facilitate joint investments.
Although this sector, which is in a fledgling stage with significant improvements needed to improve the efficiency of electricity generated from hydrogen, is garnering interest from companies and investors in industrialized nations.
International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts the scaled-up production to 528 million tons of hydrogen by 2050 for use as fuel in the shipping, air travel and heavy industry sectors.
The agency anticipates that around 7% of final energy use will be supplied by renewable generated hydrogen, mainly in industrial process heat.
Germany looking at green hydrogen imports from Turkey | Daily Sabah
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Handelsblatt.
Wasserstoffpakt mit Erdogan – Warum Habeck auf die Türkei setzt
Nur mit grünem Wasserstoff kann die deutsche Industrie klimaneutral werden. Die Türkei k?nnte zum wichtigen Lieferanten werden – trotz Differenzen zwischen Berlin und Ankara.
Ankara, Berlin Politisch hakt es zwischen Deutschland und dem türkischen Pr?sidenten Recep Tayyip Erdogan, doch das Land am Bosporus k?nnte für die Bundesregierung zum Mittel der Wahl werden, wenn es um die Lieferung grüner Energietr?ger geht. An diesem Dienstag haben beide L?nder eine weitreichende Partnerschaft beschlossen, um grünen Wasserstoff aus der Türkei nach Deutschland zu exportieren.
Bundeswirtschaftsminister Robert Habeck (Grüne) und der türkische Energieminister Fatih D?nmez unterzeichneten in Berlin eine entsprechende Absichtserkl?rung. Sie besagt, dass deutsche und türkische Firmen bei der Entwicklung, dem Bau und Betrieb von Produktionsst?tten für grünen Wasserstoff künftig eng zusammenarbeiten....
Der Wasserstoff aus der Türkei ist unentbehrlich
Das Land hat das Potenzial und die Kapazit?ten, um grünen Wasserstoff für Deutschland zu produzieren – und macht sich damit trotz politischer Differenzen für die Partner im Westen unentbehrlich.
Zu der Partnerschaft geh?ren mehrere Kooperationsabkommen, darunter zwischen dem deutschen Windparkbauer Enercon und dem türkischen Energiekonzern Enerjisa. Auch das türkische Solarunternehmen Kalyon und das Fraunhofer Institut für solare Energiesysteme wollen künftig gemeinsam neue Energietechnologien vorantreiben.
Die Türkei erzeugt bereits einen relativ hohen Anteil seines Stroms aus erneuerbaren Quellen, insbesondere Wasserkraft, die rund ein Fünftel zum türkischen Energiemix beitr?gt. Weitere zw?lf Prozent kommen durch Wind- und Solarenergie sowie Geothermie zustande. Allein im vergangenen Jahr installierten türkische Firmen Windparks mit einer Kapazit?t von 1,75 Gigawatt im Land.
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Iraq halts northern crude exports after winning arbitration case against Turkiye - Turkiye would need to source more crude from Iran and Russia to make up for the loss of northern Iraqi oil
- The decision to stop shipments of 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude relates to a case from 2014
- Baghdad deems KRG exports via Turkish Ceyhan port as illegal
BAGHDAD: Iraq halted crude exports from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and northern Kirkuk fields on Saturday, an oil official told Reuters, after the country won a longstanding arbitration case against Turkiye.
The decision to stop shipments of 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude relates to a case from 2014, when Baghdad claimed that Turkiye violated a joint agreement by allowing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to export oil through a pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.
Baghdad deems KRG exports via Turkish Ceyhan port as illegal.
“Iraq was officially informed by the International Court of Arbitration [about the] final ruling on Thursday and it was in favor of Iraq,” a senior oil ministry official said.
Turkiye informed Iraq that it will respect the arbitration ruling, a source said.
Turkish shipping officials told Iraqi employees at Turkiye’s Ceyhan oil export hub that no ship will be allowed to load Kurdish crude without the approval of the Iraqi government, according to a document seen by Reuters.
Turkiye subsequently halted the pumping of Iraqi crude from the pipeline that leads to Ceyhan, a separate document seen by Reuters showed.
On Saturday, Iraq stopped pumping oil through its side of the pipeline which runs from its northern Kirkuk oil fields, one of the officials told Reuters.
Iraq had been pumping 370,000 bpd of KRG crude and 75,000 bpd of federal crude through the pipeline before it was halted, according to a source familiar with pipeline operations.
“A delegation from the oil ministry will travel to Turkiye soon to meet energy officials to agree on new mechanism to export Iraq’s northern crude oil in line with the arbitration ruling,” a second oil ministry official said.
PRODUCTION RISK
The final hearing on the arbitration case was held in Paris in July 2022, but it took months for the arbitrators, the secretariat of the arbitration court and the International Chamber of Commerce to approve the verdict, a source familiar with the process told Reuters.
The impact on the KRG’s oil production depends heavily on the duration of the Iraqi Turkish Pipeline (ITP) closure, sources said, adding this would cause significant uncertainty to oil firms operating in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq (KRI).
A cessation of exports through the pipeline would trigger a collapse of the KRI economy, according to a letter last year to US representatives from Dallas-based HKN Energy, which operates in the region.
Turkiye would need to source more crude from Iran and Russia to make up for the loss of northern Iraqi oil, the letter said.
Analysts have warned that companies could withdraw from the region unless the environment improved.
Foreign oil firms, including HKN Energy and Gulf Keystone, have linked their investment plans this year to the reliability of KRG payments, which face months of delays.
Iraq halts northern crude exports after winning arbitration case against Turkiye (arabnews.com)
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