Energy Efficiency Made Simple Vol IV 2015

1

Zaire

Inga

Capanda

Kolwezi

Matala

Ruacana

Windhoek

Apollo Subs

Gabarone

Swaziland

Major existing lines

Major proposed or possible power lines

Figure 4: Power transmission in Southern Africa.

Where we want to go Sub-Saharan Africa used about 440 TWh of electricity in 2012, of which South Africa used almost exactly half – the rest of the region used 224 TWh [1]. If we disregard South Africa, and calculate the needs of the rest of the population of the region, with each citizen receiving 3 000 kWh per annum, then the region would need some 2 620 TWh. In other words, in 2012 the region had a shortfall, relative to the world average, of some 2 400 TWh, about ten times South Africa’s present consumption. At an 85% load factor, that means about 295 MW of base load generation. This is the minimum generating capacity that needs to be

Botswana and Namibia have grown their output in recent years, and today their citizens enjoy nearly 2 000 kWh/annum. In contrast, the relative supply in Zambia and Zimbabwe has dropped, although it is still above the average supply in the region. All other nations have less than the regional average; the only remarkable feature is the surge in the power available to Mozambicans after the mid-1990s. Angola, Kenya and Nigeria have managed to grow their supply slightly, but they are still, in world terms, extremely short of power. Globally, the average citizen enjoys the benefits of about 3 000 kWh per annum. Only South Africa is above the global average. It seems a reasonable target that the region should strive to have as much power as the world average. Let us examine what that would require.

7

ENERGY EFFICIENCY MADE SIMPLE 2015