Online Reporter
Nqobile Tshili in PORT LOUIS, Mauritius
DEVELOPED countries should not force Zimbabwe, among other African countries, to abandon generating power using fossil fuels as alternative energy sources are expensive and can derail the economic growth of nations, a Russian energy expert has said.
This comes as environmentalists have lobbied for the countries to transition to greener energy sources by 2030.
However Zimbabwe, like other countries, has reservations about the hasty initiative and has invested in thermal power with the construction of Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 and 8 stabilising electricity generation and supply as well as encouraging investors, businesses and individuals to expand solar power to fill the gaps.
The cheapest electricity, clean hydropower from Kariba South, has been sharply curtailed by reduced inflows down the Zambezi after droughts.
In the meantime, Government has stated that it was conducting research to minimise carbon emissions at the country’s power stations.
Global Energy Association president, Dr Sergey Brilev, said the transition into greener energy is not a ‘one size fits all’ model and what may work for developed countries might be irrelevant for African countries, and what is applicable in developing countries, might be irrelevant in first world nations.
Speaking at an international sustainable energy conference in Port Louis in Mauritius yesterday, Dr Brilev said countries need to balance their development interests against the fashionable green energy transition.
Running under the theme: “Regional to Global, the conference brought in experts from Russia, United Kingdom, South Africa Ivory Coast, Mauritius and Kenya and Zimbabwe, who spoke on sustainable development in the energy sector.
The conference explored challenges and opportunities that exist in providing reliable energy in African countries, considering its growing population and the need to industrialise.
“This is the delicate balance that I was referring to: you can’t apply universal recipes, you have to look at the interests of the people.
“If we talk about it in the North, for instance, we know it in Russia and also Canada knows that lithium is not the solution,” said Dr Brilev.
“So, why should we be coming to the South with things that are fashionable in the north and are not working and may make energy less affordable and less available,” he added.
“It is one of the reasons we organise conferences like this so that we listen to each other. You can’t guarantee sustainable and affordable energy supply without thinking of a viable mix.
“As of today solar and wind got less [pollution], but when you want to think of industrial development, fossil fuels at the moment are inevitable.”
Dr Brilev said, for instance, Russia cannot exploit wind energy while some other countries can, noting that energy sources such as coal are viable and there might be need to employ technologies that would reduce emissions.
“You have to think of an energy mix with the interest of your development. Even coal and natural gas are not a menace, and should be treated in a nice way,” said Dr Brilev.
He said as countries adopt solar energy, they also need to start thinking of the disposal of solar panels when they outlive their life-span.
The Russian expert further stated that most African countries were still poor to adequately finance the renewable energy transition agenda.
Association of Power Utilities of Africa director general, Dr Abel Didier Tella, said with more than 600 million of Africans still energy insecure, countries should do more to ensure their people have power.
He said Dr Brilev’s sentiments are also in sync with African Union Commission’s resolution that the continent needs to exploit all available energy sources for development.
“The African Union Commission stated very clearly that for the time being, all African countries will be using available energy sources as long as it is used wisely. We cannot afford to put a cap at 10 million tonnes of coal,” said Dr Tella.
“We have this abundance of fossil fuel. So, the real issue that needs to be answered is which kind of transition do we need to adopt because our population as a continent will be reaching two billion people, half of them under the age of 30 and half of them living in town and all these people will need reliable energy.”
He said power shortages have implications on the development of states and depending on one source can be detrimental to economies.
Engineer Swinage Chikwedze, who works for a start-up renewable energy company in Zimbabwe, said power deficit has created opportunities for the adoption of renewable energies in the country.
She said financial constraints limit the successful implementation of renewable projects in the country.
“We are trying to build a 50-megawatt solar farm, we have acquired all the necessary licences, but our limitation is finance. The solar farm will feed into the national grid and we’re trying to look for investors so that we can reach our financial closure,” she said.
“So, the initial high cost of investment are some of the challenges we are experiencing at the moment.”
Other speakers also spoke of the need for more collaboration between Government, private sector and partners in the development of a stable and sustainable energy source to propel continental growth.
