On energy and climate change

African perspectives

Sep 02, 2024

Dear readers,

I hope this finds you well… after a good and restorative summer.

C’est la rentrée à Paris… It’s back to school time here.

As France still doesn’t have a government, schools are reopening in a frenzy, with a looming strike, lack of teachers, and other challenges.

And I might have to go to another protest, on Saturday 7 September… to call on President Macron to respect the outcome of the June/July vote!

Still, this past week and the coming one, I’m working on a more normal rhythm, following African affairs again.

The main issues:

-The coming election in Algeria, scheduled for Saturday 7 September; more on it in my next post…

-And the issue of electrifying Africa in a global context of production and while the global warming crisis is only worsening….

Here are some my latest stories for RFI on these issues…

On solar energy, I interviewed the leaders of a charity, managers and users in Zambia, where the lack of water in the south makes the use of hydro-electric power less and less efficient…

Zambia's crippling drought creates chance for solar power to shine

By Melissa Chemam

Radio France Internationale (RFI)

With a prolonged drought affecting the supply of hydroelectricity all over southern Africa, a growing number of people are turning to solar to fill the energy gap.

"We can spend up to 44 hours with power," Kelly Huckaby tells RFI from the outskirts of Lusaka. Originally from the United States, he has been based in Zambia since 2010 and runs a Christian ministry that hosts camps and conferences for up to 200 children at a time.

A reliable supply of electricity is essential. But the drought that has gripped southern Africa since early this year has led to rolling cuts in a country that relies heavily on hydropower.

Read the whole story here:

Zambia's crippling drought creates chance for solar power to shine

Nearly 68 million suffering from drought in southern Africa, says regional bloc

Now, Africa is also better on other sources of energy.

Its nuclear energy ambitions face significant challenges as experts question whether the continent’s infrastructure can support such a leap.

Industry leaders from the US and Africa's nuclear energy sector were meeting in Nairobi lat week to discuss how to move forward.

I interviewed one of the leading independent expert on nuclear power, Mycle Schneider.

Have a read:

Africa's nuclear dreams a fusion of high hopes and high hurdles

By Melissa Chemam

Radio France Internationale (RFI)

A four-day conference in Nairobi aimed to address the obstacles hindering the adoption of nuclear energy on the continent, last week.

While South Africa remains the only African nation with nuclear power plants, Kenya and Rwanda are eager to follow.

This summit is the second major convention on the issue, following a similar event in Accra, Ghana, in October-November 2023. That event was organised by the US Department of Energy in collaboration with the Nuclear Power Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.

…

Read the whole story here:

Africa's nuclear dreams a fusion of high hopes and high hurdles

Kenya notably hopes to raise investments during the summit to be able to complete it by 2032.

Kenya to build first nuclear power plant by 2034 amid local opposition

Kenya’s first nuclear power plant is set to open in 2034 on the coast of the Indian Ocean, the government announced as it prepares to host a US-Africa summit on nuclear energy next week. The announcement has already raised objections from activists and local residents over safety and environmental concerns.

Issued on: 24/08/2024 - 14:46

*South Africa is the only country to have built nuclear plants in Africa, like this Eskom Duvha Power Station, in the coal rich Witbank region. AFP*

Last year, the Africa Climate Summit in Kenya was also a key moment for further green commitments…

UAE pledges $4.5 billion investment in clean energy for Africa

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged $4.5 billion in clean energy investments in Africa at the landmark Africa Climate Summit in Kenya's capital Nairobi.

Issued on: 05/09/2023

Kenya's President William Ruto adresses delegates during the opening ceremony of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) 2023 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya, on 4September 2023. — Kenya's President William Ruto adresses delegated during the opening ceremony of the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) 2023 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya, on 4September 2023. REUTERS

As China is about to host the a new meeting of its China - Africa Cooperation group (from Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 September 2024), African leaders also expect further options, discussions and proposition.

This Monday, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in China and told Xi Jinping he wants to narrow his country's trade deficit with Beijing.

The Chinese leader is due to receive the head of 50 African nations, hoping to get them to decide to buy more Chinese goods.

Ramaphosa's remarks point to the challenges Xi may have in convincing African leaders gathered in Beijing to absorb more of the production powerhouse's wares, particularly after China did not meet a pledge from the last Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in 2021 to buy $300 billion of African goods.

Melissa on the Road

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