‘Energy supply must increase fourfold by 2050’

If Africa wants to meet the
energy needs of all its people
in the coming years, energy
supplies should increase at
least fourfold by 2050 from
today’s level, said Brian
Statham, chairman of the
South African National Energy
Association (SANEA) at
the 2009 Energy Solutions
for Africa Conference and
Exhibition held in Sandton last
week.
With South Africa’s own
energy crisis still fresh in the
minds of most South Africans,
the two-day conference, hosted
by Siyenza Management in
Partnership with Business
Unity South Africa, addressed
Africa’s energy requirements in
an effort to find solutions to the
challenges while harnessing the
opportunities.
Said Statham: “Only one
third of Africa’s population has
access to modern energy and
that is not evenly distributed.
More than 40% of the people
still use non-commercial
energy sources.”
With the rate of electricity
access estimated at only about
34%, technology transfer,
foreign investments and
access to clean energy
remain limited.
“It is important that Africa
address its energy crisis now
and find ways of harnessing
its massive resources,”
said Stratham.
While many of the world’s
capital owners don’t rate
Africa high on their agenda,
Stratham and other speakers
at the conference agreed that
in geographical terms alone,
Africa was huge and should not
be ignored.
Deemed an unfavourable
investment climate that is
not renowned for its good
governance and often is
categorised by its nontransparent
business practices,
Africa must find ways to
increase its energy
capacity and output.
According to Paul Runge
of Africa Project Access, the
building of relationships and
having the correct contacts are
key for successful projects
in Africa.
“We must be careful about
waiting for the great projects
that will save us. We need to
get involved and we need to do
it now.”
Runge said from a business
point of view it was time
Africa actively sought donor
and fund manager support for
renewable energy sources.
“I am not saying they
are good or bad, but from a
business point of view it makes
sense to use their technology
and skills in a way that is
beneficial to the continent.”