Hydropower in Sub-Saharan Africa: Making Energy and Development Possible

Abstract

Although those of us in developed countries take power production and the efficiencies for granted, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that approximately 1.4 billion people have no access to electricity. In particular, those in the least developed countries could be described as being “energy-impoverished”. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly afflicted with more than 70% of the population having no access to power whatsoever. The African continent possesses an invaluable resource, largely untapped, in its vast number and extent of tributaries including thousands of miles of waterways. Africa has been moving forward to exploit its hydropower potential and developing adequate infrastructure is a cornerstone in order to compete on the world’s economic stage.This empirical study is aimed to provide a descriptive case study of two pioneering, regional hydropower projects in SSA and partly financed by the World Bank. The initial analysis of the two projects reviewed have contrasting outcomes according to World Bank evaluations conducted upon project completion. Several years later, the expectations for these vanguard projects fell short according to experts around the globe. The testimony of World Bank lawyers, economists, international consultants and Ivory Coast’s Minister for Economic Infrastructure shed light on the formidable challenges encountered in the sustainability of large-scale energy infrastructure projects. While some short-term successes could be counted in the building of the actual energy generation and transmission infrastructures, long-term perspectives have been grave and largely affected by project administration deficiencies, political interference, inadequacy of electricity tariffication policy and lack of serious follow-through toward countries’ financial obligations. Over the last decade, the region has been implementing a common strategy promoting large scale cooperation in the energy sector and the creation of regional power pools. Such efforts combined with the development of new infrastructure projects and lessons learned from the past will ideally mitigate the most common challenges arising in projects of this magnitude. The concerted focus should be directed toward a cost-effective orientation intended to attract private sector investors who would demand accountable management thereby creating a market motivation for project sustainability. Ultimately, the successful delivery of affordable and reliable power will contribute to a vision where all have ready access to clean energy, the energizing catalyst driving a developed Africa.