Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Electricity Equatorial Guinea

We have arrived in Equatorial Guinea (which for simplicity we will call EG).
EG obtained Independence from Spanish rule in 1968. For some strange reason, EQ has 2 national languages (Spanish and French). But we are not here to talk about languages, so lets go resources and energy.
When it comes to resources, EQ is playing third fiddle to only Nigeria and Angola in oil production in sub-Sahara Africa. Estimates are that, EQ probably has 10% of the world’s crude oil reserves. Oil accounts for more than 85% of EQ exports.
Now lets see what all the money being realized from oil is being used for. For the record, like most African countries of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and to some extend the early 90’s, Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO seized power in a military coup, and although EQ now has a constitutional government, with Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO still as the president; does this smell like Ghana and Rawlings or Gaddafi and Libya to name a few.

We are not dealing with imaginary electricity, just what is currently available (the real thing). Equatorial Guinea's electricity generating capacity varies, with 15.4 megawatts (MW) of installed and working capacity, and 5-30 MW of installed but not producing, the reason is the same sickness, (Lack of maintenance). Less than 5.0 MW are located on the mainland, including 4 MW of oil-fired thermal capacity and 1 MW of hydroelectric capacity.
Bioko Island is getting electricity from two thermal plants and one hydroelectric plant. The expansion of natural gas production at the Alba field in recent years has provided a convenient fuel source for new power generation in the country. The 10.4-MW, natural gas-fired Punta plant began operation in 2000, supplying gas-fired electricity to Bioko Island.
By all accounts, EQ is self-sufficient, but as to how much of the country has electricity, the numbers are not available, of course, the rural communities are not all lit, so your guess is as good as mine.
Regardless of how I feel about a military person ruling a country by way of coup, I have no choice but to say with tongue in cheek that, there are cheetahs in this landscape.

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