The Alarming issue of energy in Africa 

The issue of energy in Africa is a matter of sovereignty and independence from the rest of the world. Because it is known as the « black » continent, it is not surprising to see this part of the world in the dark and facing enormous electricity problems. Africa is the richest continent (97% of the world’s copper reserves, 60% of those of diamonds, 80% of coltan, 23% of uranium and phosphates, 14% of oil, etc.), but the poorest at the same time.

This paradox is well representative of the old continent. Having enormous natural resources, it could be the brightest continent, yet its population suffers from lack of energy (electricity). Energy is the fuel of the economy. Therefore, a scarcity of this resource is dissuasive for companies because without it, they cannot ensure a good production despite the abundance of raw materials. The statistics are alarming for this part of the globe (645 million Africans have no access to electricity, energy consumption per capita in sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest globally. It is estimated at 181 KW compared to 6500 KW in Europe and 13 000 KW in the United States.), while some continents, which do not have as many resources, are world leaders in the energy sector. It is one thing to dispose of resources, another to exploit them. Africa lacks the means to harness its natural potential in order to reach the light and attract more and more investors, but especially its population can live and not survive in conditions of precariousness and famine. Things are yet to be done in the  »cradle of humankind ».

Two nuclear power plants would be enough to give the entire African population access to electricity, but nothing is done in this direction, meanwhile some countries have more than two. When reading the statistics about this continent, they are so startling that some people think, there is only poverty and war in Africa, forgetting that the current situation is also the consequence of foreign interventions for the sake of domination.

In the magazine « The Economist », a journalist says that there is no longer hope in Africa. To be independent and to maintain hope, the African people must sustainably exploit their natural resources, even if that implies starting the process using basic means. They will eventually achieve self-reliance with the help of the « international community » and the donors, even though there will always be groups that seek to maintain this energy dependence.

It is clear that the balance of power outweighs the desire to achieve well-being. This geopolitical battle will continue as long as the sons of mama Africa do not jointly decide to stand up and stand together against the tyranny, domination and instrumentalization of African leaders in order to plunder the wealth of this continent. As Martin Luther King says: « We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools. » The time is no longer for words but for action through African unity. Africa must take its place in the councils of nations and be recognized for its worth. Otherwise, where is the respect?

In Africa, the production of energy from fossil fuels requires enormous investment. In December, during the COP21 in Paris, African Heads of State launched a wide-ranging program to develop renewable energies. It remains to find the funding. The challenge is ambitious, as it is about accelerating the access to electricity for 700 million Africans are still private, 10 million being added each year while limiting the use of fossil energies. Renewable energies reduce the cost of energy production. According to a recent Bloomberg survey, solar will dethrone coal as the cheapest energy in the world by 2025. The collapse in the price of panels, massively produced in China, Related to the skills democratization.

Solar energy is easy to access and allows every household to have access to energy. In terms of trade relations, if the Chinese benefit most from this situation as suppliers of solar equipment, countries like France that take advantage of this dependence Africa are put aside and the reduction of dependence Africa is not so beneficial for them. However, United Nations established in 2015 the Africa Initiative on Renewable Energy. This movement is supposed to be an African initiative aimed at leading the continent to self-sufficiency in energy in 2020.

Renewable energy, especially the use of solar energy, can reduce the dependence of African states on European funds, which are disguised investments embodied in endless debt and market dominance. Because, even if these large groups produce electricity, the cost to an African according to his minimum wage remains enormous when we take into account the charges applied. Small African companies are emerging in order to help the population. One example is the start- up “KOPA”, which creates almost free solar kits, which can be adapted to the cellphone. Facilitating the access to energy also leads to an inevitable dependency on external financing. Some countries succeed in turning to nuclear power, for example Ethiopia. 99.9% of the energy produced in this country comes from renewable energy, with a dominance of hydroelectric power (98.9%), a wind turbine representing 1% and a geothermal power of 0.1%. At the same time, efforts must be continued to enable more people to have access to electricity and also to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity.