9 thoughts on “African Energy”

  1. They do not have that many choices other than coal and hydropower. The Chinese already started muscling in several years ago. One Belt, One Road Initiative has only sped up their pace.

    Then there’s the money the Chinese have been dumping on Pakistan for the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor so they can circumvent the Straits of Malacca. Huge amounts of money.

  2. I’m confused. Why is this just happening now? This could have been done fifty years ago or even earlier.

    1. Sub-Saharan Africa has been growing strongly since 2000. It’s happening now because the demand has grown.

      As for why coal: all-renewable is not practical yet for power generation (the marginal cost climbs dramatically as you approach 100% due to the need for either storage or excess capacity or both), so if capacity is growing they need something in addition to PV and wind. In parts of Africa without a lot of hydro or gas that will mean coal.

  3. That’s enough coal to last them 880 years at current energy consumption levels. But of course, they would (and should) ramp up. It will be amazing to see the improvement in quality of life if they do it even partly right.

  4. Cheap energy provided by coal could raise Africa out of poverty, =IF= the local governments don’t spoil it by planting a knife in the back of the economy with the all too common looting or excessive management.

  5. Coal is still 30% of US power supply. https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
    30% of our generating capacity is about 4kW per person compared to a global average for all generation of 1kW per person. So coal generation is very much still keeping many of us from falling into poverty. (Numbers for total generation capacity from CIA world factbook.)

    1. Coal is 30% of US supply, but no new coal plants are being built even as old ones are shut down. That says the current capacity is largely there for historical reasons, not that coal is irreplaceable.

      Interestingly, even natural gas is having some trouble in Texas. The utility model is coming under increasing strain, which spells opportunity for those with new models better suited to current conditions.

      https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2017-04-21/griddy-launch-panda-thermal-bankruptcy-the-state-of-texas-power

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