The process of rural electrification in developing countries: systemic analysis based on the understanding of policies of Brazil and China

Abstract

The present article, based on a systemic approach, analyzed rural electrification policies and programs in China and Brazil, two countries that have already reached 99% of the population receiving electricity in rural areas. This analysis was focused on four macro-factors (governance, funding, implementation and monitoring and technological available), which together collaborated in a positive or negative way for the evolutionary process of rural electrification policy. The study allowed to conclude that a clear priority was given to macro-factors funding (mainly public) and available technologies, which made possible the advances in rural electrification but undermined the reliability of the system and its relationship with local income generation processes. In the case of China local participation (utilities, energy and population) was observed, but with negative points for governance and monitoring. In the Brazilian case, the bottleneck remains the Amazon region, which requires structures based on the macro factors that are dimensioned for the region. Finally, a decision-making framework was set up based on scenarios for rural electrification in developing countries, showing that it is possible to maintain the rural electrification process from the strong funding structures and available technologies, but the deadline for universalization will have no set term if there are no solid structures of governance and management at the local level.