ELECTRIFYING AFRICA & ILLUMINATING ITS NIGHTS:

LEADERSHIP, TECHNOLOGY LEAP FROGGING & POLICIES � �

Lawrence E. Jones, PhD �

We will soon reach the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and are fast approaching the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). But when will we illuminate the cities and villages of Sub-Saharan Africa, and energize the factories, schools, clinics and industries? In view of prevailing world-wide economic recession, the ever looming global climate crisis and the potential impacts it could have on humans and natural resources, how much longer can we delay making the hard, smart and sustainable decisions about how to provide access to clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity to fuel the needs of hundreds of millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa? How much longer can the vast majority continue to rely on firewood, candles, flashlights and increased air pollution from dirty energy sources?

We continue to hear different reasons about what is or should be the role and responsibilities of governments, electric utilities, and the private sector and international community in tackling the electricity problems in the many African countries. In many countries we hear the usual blame game and many of the same arguments. Be that as it may, what is certain is that we can not and will not end the electricity crisis in Africa by continuing to use long-standing assumptions that have kept us from making real progress in the power sector despite several decades of

ELECTRIFYING AFRICA:

USING NEW LEADERSHIP, TECHNOLOGIES, AND POLICIES

TO ILLUMINATE AFRICA � �

By Lawrence E. Jones, PhD �

As we near the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and fast approach the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), we are long overdue to make some tough decisions about the future of our continent. Sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of smart and sustainable options for providing access to clean, safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to fuel the needs of hundreds of millions of its citizens. In view of prevailing worldwide economic recession, the ever looming global climate crisis, and the potential impacts it could have on humans and natural resources, there is a critical need to discontinue our reliance on firewood, candles, flashlights, and increased air pollution from dirty energy sources. As the rest of the world begins to adapt to the issues of climate change, Sub-Saharan Africa must explore all options for illuminating the cities and villages, and energizing the factories, schools, clinics, and industries.

It is widely accepted that the world faces a global recession, and many Sub-Saharan African countries are especially vulnerable given the nature of their economies even before this crisis began. Ensuring clean energy is considered an economic, environmental and security priority, and solving the electricity crisis is indeed critical to meeting all

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investments.

Although a number of encouraging trends can be seen in power sectors in a few emerging economies on the continent, the rates of electrification across most countries or the per cent of the population who have access to clean energy services such as lighting, remain amongst the lowest in the world.

There are many projections from the International Energy Agency and other organizations about the world's future electricity consumption. In all of these, the forecast for access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest in the entire world even as far out as 2050. In few cases the average rate of growth in consumption by the year 2030 is at best a mere 10%, while other cases even show a decline. However, these forecasts are based on models and assumptions about the future. The projected scenarios do not have to be the reality that is unfolded. In stead, a different future can emerge. It should therefore be the goal of African governments and the global community for that matter to take actions now that will prove these projections wrong. Access to electricity is inextricably linked with access to food,, water, health, and economic development Ending electricity poverty is key to ending all other forms of poverty. These dire forecasts must not transpire.

The time has come for new ideas and approaches rooted in the best practices and lessons learned from modern electrification of other parts of the world.

Solving the electricity crisis in African countries requires visionary

other development goals. Elsewhere in the world we see that, in spite of the current global financial crisis, countries are persistent about making investments in their energy sector. They have plans and ambitious goals that they are working towards [I WOULD CITE SOME EXAMPLES OF COUNTRIES MAKING THESE EFFORTS].

There are many questions about the role and responsibilities of governments, electric utilities, and the private sector and international community in tackling the electricity problems in Africa. As we continue to propagate various arguments as it relates to this issue, what is certain is that we cannot and will not end the electricity crisis in Africa by continuing to use long-standing assumptions that have kept us from making real progress in the power sector despite several decades of investments.

Although a number of encouraging trends can be seen in power sectors in a few emerging economies in Africa, the rates of electrification across most countries or the percent of the population who have access to clean energy services such as lighting, remain amongst the lowest in the world. [ ARE THERE STATISTICS TO PROVIDE HERE?] � �

There are many projections from the International Energy Agency and other organizations about the world's future electricity consumption. In all of these, the forecast for access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest in the entire world, even as far out as 2050. In few cases, the average rate of growth in consumption by the year 2030 is at best a mere 10%, while other cases even show a decline. However, these forecasts are based on models and assumptions about the future. The

leadership, as well as effective executers of proposed strategies. from the policy makers (regional and national),to the Board of Directors and management of electric utilities (publically or privately owned) to energy producing entrepreneurs. Leadership must be adept, pragmatic, and forward-thinking, have well developed emotional intelligence to acknowledge mistakes and persistent in the exploration of innovative electricity policies and solutions.

More and more, leadership of Africa's electricity sectors should be challenged and empowered by their governments to explore the groundswell of new energy technologies that are showing significant increases in performances and reduction in costs in recent years. As this trend looks to continue, Sub-Saharan African countries should be poised to leap frog to modern energy technologies that can be adapted to meet local needs. The pathway to providing access to electricity on the continent does not have to exactly follow those of the past. The choices made and actions taken will determine whether the path to ending electricity poverty and illuminating Africa's nights is sustainable or not.

For decades, and still today, it is common to propose and investing in mega infrastructural projects as the panacea to electricity development. While large dam schemes and fossil fueled thermal power plants have their place in meeting grand challenges, these are of little use without the enabling network of transmission and distribution lines. However, construction these infrastructures are very capital intensive and have very long lead time. There has to be alternative approaches that accelerate the pace of electrification on the continent.

projected scenarios do not have to be the reality that is unfolded. Instead, a different, much brighter future can emerge. It should therefore be the goal of African governments, as well as the global community, to take actions now that will prove these projections wrong. Access to electricity is inextricably linked with access to food, water, health, and economic development. Ending electricity poverty is key to combating all other forms of poverty, and therefore, these grim forecasts must not transpire.

The time has come for new ideas and approaches rooted in the best practices and lessons learned from modern electrification of other parts of the world.

Solving the electricity crisis in African countries requires visionary leadership, as well as effective executers of proposed strategies--from the policy makers (regional and national) and the board of directors and management of electric utilities (publically or privately owned) to energy producing entrepreneurs. Leadership must be adept, pragmatic, forward thinking, and persistent in the exploration of innovative electricity policies and solutions; but leadership must also employ well developed, emotional intelligence to acknowledge mistakes made and to take the steps needed to course correct.

Increasingly, leadership of Africa's electricity sectors should be challenged and empowered by their governments to explore the groundswell of new energy technologies that are showing significant increases in performances and reduction in costs in recent years. As this trend grows, Sub-Saharan African countries should be poised to leap-frog to modern energy technologies that can be adapted to meet

Yes, we are facing a global recession. And, yes, many Sub-Saharan African countries are especially vulnerable given the nature of their economies even before this crisis began. But this should not be yet another reason for inaction. Solving the electricity crisis is indeed critical to meeting all other development goals. Elsewhere in the world we see that, in spite of the current global financial crisis, countries are persistent about making investments in their energy sector. They have plans and ambitious goals that they are working towards. Ensuring clean energy is considered an economic, environmental and security priority.

Africa has huge endowments of renewable energy resources: solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal and wind so a more positive energy future should be more realistic. For this to happen, some of the basic elements needed include: 1) strategic plans and detailed roadmaps for developing the electricity sector must be updated, and when non-existent, which might be the case for African countries that are being rebuilt after periods of wars and other conflicts, new plans must be developed; 2) execution of these plans must be accelerated; 3) stable regulatory framework and neutral political oversight; 4) rural electrification programs to meet the needs of majority of Africans living outside of urban areas; 5) more demonstration and deployment pilot projects in lieu of carrying out repeated feasibility studies of the same projects; 6) regional integration of national power grids where economically and environmentally feasible; and 7) investments in human capacity building.

local needs. The pathway to providing access to electricity on the continent does not have to exactly follow those of the past. The choices made and actions taken will determine whether the path to ending electricity poverty and illuminating Africa's nights is sustainable or not.

For decades, and still today, it is common to propose investments in mega infrastructural projects as the panacea to electricity development. While large dam schemes and fossil fueled thermal power plants have their place in meeting grand challenges, these are of little use without the enabling network of transmission and distribution lines. However, construction of these infrastructures are largely capital intensive and have very long lead time.

Africa has huge endowments of renewable energy resources: solar, hydro, biomass, geothermal, and wind, and with these options at our fingertips, a more positive energy future is realistic. For this to happen, basic elements include: 1) updating the strategic plans and detailed roadmaps for developing the electricity sector, and when non-existent, which might be the case for African countries that are being rebuilt after periods of wars and other conflicts, developing new plans; 2) accelerating the execution of these plans; 3) stabilizing regulatory framework and neutralizing political oversight; 4) ruralizing electrification programs to meet the needs of majority of Africans living outside of urban areas; 5) Increasing the demonstration and deployment of pilot projects in lieu of carrying out repeated feasibility studies of the same projects; 6) regionally integrating national power grids where economically and environmentally feasible; and 7) investing in human capacity building.

But where is the human capacity needed to develop and execute these kinds of integrated plans that will increase electricity access and accelerate growth for the continent to a new energy and economic future? This question is posed by many African governments and the international community. The African Diaspora is replete with recognized experts in energy and electrical engineering, technology research and development, utility management etc. Host countries are benefitting from their expertise. If these individuals are sought after to contribute to the development and prosperity of industrial countries, surely it should behoove the governments and private sector of their native countries to find ways to gain access to their knowledge, real-life experiences, and web of professional networks.

African countries should come up with new policies and strategies to leverage the intellectual capital in the Diaspora. At a minimum, commensurate services performed by these “native expatriates” should be valued and rewarded the same as those offered by expatriates from other countries who have similar qualifications. The playing field must be made equal based on merit and performance. Mediocrity will not bring electricity to Africa! We must always seek out and put our best and brightest minds at both home and abroad to work.

“Native-expatriates”, in general have different emotional ties to their countries of origin and people. This should make working with those who may not have had the opportunity of a higher education and training abroad easier, Such a collaboration would lead to improve capacity building, knowledge and technology transfer,

Many African governments and the international community ask, “where is the human capacity needed to develop and execute these kinds of integrated plans that will increase electricity access and accelerate growth for the continent to a new energy and economic future?” Part of the answer lies within the African Diaspora, which is replete with recognized experts in energy and electrical engineering, technology research and development, utility management, etc. Host countries are benefitting from their expertise and it would behoove the governments and private sector of their native countries to find ways to gain access to their knowledge, real-life experiences, and web of professional networks.

African countries should draft new policies and strategies to leverage the intellectual capital in the Diaspora. At a minimum, commensurate services performed by these “native expatriates” should be valued and rewarded the same as those offered by expatriates from other countries who have similar qualifications. The playing field must be made equal based on merit and performance. Mediocrity will not bring electricity to Africa! We must always seek out and put our best and brightest minds at home and abroad to work.

“Native-expatriates” in general have different emotional ties to their countries of origin and people. This should make working with those who may not have had the opportunity of a higher education and training abroad easier. Such collaboration would lead to improved capacity building, knowledge and technology transfer, and management and business development. This kind of partnership would also foster a greater sense of individual and national pride, as well as responsibility for one's own destiny.

management and business development. This kind of partnership would also foster a greater sense of individual and national pride, as well as responsibility for one's own destiny.

When it comes to solving the electricity crisis, time is not in our favor. The confluence of population, water, economic, education, and health crises will only be exacerbated without access to electricity. It is important, now more than ever, to ignite the forces of innovation and creativity, chart a new course that will provide hundreds of million sof Africans access to electricity. African governments, leaders in the electricity sectors and the international partners must be committed to exceed all the projections by others about the continent's electricity future.

If Americans can inaugurate its first President of African descend, surely there is hope for illuminating the nights of Africa. But hope without action is futile.

I am constantly reminded of, and inspired by, a quote from a speech my late father Emmanuel E. W. Jones Jr., known as one of the pioneering engineers at the Liberian Electricity Corporation, and a mentor for many in the country's electricity sector, gave at a Tabor100 dinner in Seattle, WA in 2003, "We can no longer continue to make excuses about whose responsibility it is for the lack of economic growth in Liberia and on the African continent as a whole. As the saying goes: Excuses are tools of the incompetent used to build monuments to nothing. For those who specialize in them shall never be good at anything else.”

When it comes to solving the electricity crisis, time is not in our favor. The confluence of population, water, economic, education, and health crises will only be exacerbated without access to electricity. It is important, now more than ever, to ignite the forces of innovation and creativity, and to chart a new course that will provide hundreds of millions of Africans access to electricity. African governments, leaders in the electricity sectors, and the international partners must be committed to exceed all the projections by others about the continent's electricity future.

If Americans can inaugurate its first president of African descent, surely there is hope for illuminating the nights of Africa. But hope without action is futile.

I am constantly reminded of, and inspired by, a quote from a speech my late father Emmanuel E. W. Jones Jr., known as one of the pioneering engineers at the Liberian Electricity Corporation, and a mentor for many in the country's electricity sector, gave at a Tabor100 dinner in Seattle, WA in 2003, "We can no longer continue to make excuses about whose responsibility it is for the lack of economic growth in Liberia and on the African continent as a whole. As the saying goes: Excuses are tools of the incompetent used to build monuments to nothing. For those who specialize in them shall never be good at anything else.”

We must dare to dream and explore the far-reaching possibilities of our imagination of the future and then work backward to find and implement the solution. � � � � �

We must dare to dream and explore the far-reaching possibilities of our imagination of the future and then work backward to find and implement the solution. � � � � �

About the Author:

Lawrence Jones is an energy professional based in Washington D.C. and has affiliations with multi-national energy technology companies, universities and Think Tanks in the USA, Europe, and Africa. He received his Ph.D., Licentiate and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Email: lejones@ee.washington.edu

About the Author:

Lawrence Jones is an energy professional based in Washington D.C., and has affiliations with multi-national energy technology companies, universities and Think Tanks in the USA, Europe, and Africa. He received his Ph.D., Licentiate and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Email: lejones@ee.washington.edu