Energy for sustainable development: Policy options for Africa

The supply and use of energy have never been static subjects. Scientifically, technologies change; some are entirely new and others result in improved function and efficiency. Economically, the primary resource base changes, with some resources being indigenous and therefore relatively secure, while other resources are imported with significantly less security. Structurally, supply organizations vary, ranging from nationalized utilities to privately owned companies. Environmentally, all energy processes have impacts; some are heavily polluting, some cause effectively no pollution, and most have less polluting alternatives. The United Nations is concerned with all these aspects of energy supply and use, as its agencies seek to encourage responsible sustainable development and the reduction of poverty. These aims are not new, but circumstances change; for instance, we now have to consider urgently the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change. This book reviews the activities of several UN and other agencies in the area of energy and sustainable development in Africa. We are aware of the changing global scene and are concerned that our actions free of historic impediments and conscious of new concepts. Thus, we are aware of the global trend towards liberalized utility suppliers working within regulated frameworks. We appreciate the rapid improvements in electronic communication, which are transforming the news media, education, business etc, and enabling the emergence of new industrial processes, dependent on automated machinery and data acquisition. We are waiting for increased development opportunities related to international carbon abatement and climate change mitigation. The aim is to strengthen opportunities for reliable and affordable energy supply, both to urban and rural populations. This is most likely to occur with clear strategies and regulated policy, which will allow enterprising industrial and commercial firms to plan for innovation and sustainable development. The various chapters of this book relate to the views and activities of different UN agencies and development banks co-operating within UNEA (UN-Energy/Africa). Each chapter therefore focuses on different, but related, themes. In total, a broad spectrum of issues is addressed, including the need for an effective commercial and industrial development policy, a favourable environment for energy end-users and an appropriate regulatory framework, successful approaches to enhance energy access for economic and human development, and structural changes in the context of sustainable development and economic planning, as well as specific challenges for energy investment in the present global situation and the potential contribution of nuclear power in the energy sector. Whatever its focus, each agency understands that energy is important, not as an end in itself, but rather as a means to tackle the major developmental challenges that exist in Africa today. Our task is to be positive and support development, with the expectation that employment and wealth income will increase and that the resulting economic structures and products will be beneficial, both locally and nationally. Having an international perspective, the UN sees the advantages of harmonized policies and methods, which we hope will be accepted by individual countries. There are obvious advantages in such harmonization, which facilitates increased trade between countries, e.g. in electricity and gas, and in commonly labelled and standardized goods and professional employment. Regarding the scale and operation of technical development worldwide, there are two complementary trends. The first is towards diversified and less-intensive industry, and the second is towards greatly enhanced national and international communication. The former appears as a coalescing of what has been called 'appropriate technology', with centralized large-scale production (as, for instance, with microgenerated and embedded electricity supply), while IT and networks, electronic control systems and remote monitoring demonstrate the second trend. These technology trends are certainly transferable, for they are already universal, although dissemination and scaling up need a coherent approach supported by harmonized policies and strategies to address the challenges in strategic partnership. By recognizing these trends, energy policy in Africa can avoid the mistakes made elsewhere and launch itself into a sustainable future. This book is intended to explain the energy-related work of UN and other world agencies, with particular reference to Africa. We hope that you will enjoy it and be stimulated by it