External Shocks have contributed
to deepen Energy Poverty
to deepen Energy Poverty
Areas of Ongoing or Imminent Power Shortfalls in
SSA
23
out of 48 SSA countries are
currently vulnerable
| Energy services that are
unreliable and high cost are a constraint to productivity and
competitiveness. In many African nations, inadequate energy service
limits the ability of large and small enterprises (including informal and
home based cottage industries, farm activity and post-harvest processing) |
|
| Public facilities such as
schools and health clinics often cannot provide the services they should
because they lack electricity and fuel. Sterilization, water supply &
purification, sanitation, refrigeration of essential medicines, patient care
and safe delivery after dark are all impaired in health facilities that lack
adequate electricity. In rural areas, inadequate electricity supplies
disincentivise teachers, doctors and nurses from residing locally |
|
| Millions of Africans lack
electricity service in their homes. Modern lighting would facilitate
socializing, reading and studying after dark. |
|
| The unit cost of
producing power in many SSA countries is high, due to suboptimal system
planning, low operating efficiencies and reliance on high-cost small
generating units when regional sources could provide power at lower cost. For example the cost of oil based
power in some countries in SSA is in the range of 25-30 US cents per
kWh, reflecting high
transportation costs for oil shipments from distant supply points. |
|
| Many countries are faced
with supply shortfall as investment in generation has not kept pace with
demand. Just 27 GW of
generation capacity is installed in SSA for a population of approximately 686
million. Latin America - with a population of 541 million - has installed
capacity of over seven times this (200 GW). Drought in SSA is exacerbating
the power shortfall. Uganda,
Burundi and Rwanda all resorted to load shedding |