Share

Cooperation key to unlocking Africa's energy

Cape Town - The huge potential of electricity generation in Africa was highlighted in a series of keynote addresses at the second Power-Gen Africa conference that started in Cape Town on Monday. 

Also highlighted was the dearth of supply. As South Africa’s deputy director general in the energy ministry Dr Wolsey Barnard noted, the continent’s total capacity was matched by that of just Germany and Denmark combined.

Barnard was standing in for Energy Minister Ben Martins, who was originally billed to address the conference.  He stressed the need for pan-African cooperation to capitalise on the various opportunities that exist, from geo-thermal generation in the Great Rift region to gas and the potential not just of the Inga project, but the Congo River.

Such projects lie in the future, but a memorandum of understanding has already been signed regarding the development of Grand Inga, 50km inland from the mouth of the river. This, if and when it came on stream, could generate 40 000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. However, the potential of the river was for a capacity of up to 100 000 MW.

In the meantime, Barnard stressed that despite economic and other problems, progress has been made on the home front, with the renewable energy programme now making a 3 400 MW contribution to the grid. The world’s biggest coal-fired power stations, Medupi and Kusile, are also on track.

The need now is to build and fund new power generation, not only to provide for the 3 million South African households that still do not have electrical power, but also to ensure that the country “does not miss out on the next growth cycle”. 

With only 31% of people in sub-Saharan Africa connected to electrical power, it is essential to bring light to the darkest continent.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.09
-1.0%
Rand - Pound
24.06
-0.7%
Rand - Euro
20.58
-0.5%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.39
-0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.9%
Platinum
894.64
-0.3%
Palladium
992.99
-0.9%
Gold
2,196.85
+0.1%
Silver
24.44
-0.8%
Brent-ruolie
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
67,964
+0.4%
All Share
74,173
+0.4%
Resource 10
56,465
+1.4%
Industrial 25
103,617
+0.3%
Financial 15
16,480
-0.3%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders