Elctricity Gabon

We have arrived in Gabon, in Equatorial Africa.
For the record, Gabon is NOT a monarchy, but supposedly a republic, yet from November 1967 to this day, there has been only one person at the helm, in the name of Omar Bongo (formerly Albert-Bernard Bongo). Mr. Bongo and his children are running the country. With the Bongo children as Ministers or Director: and Papa Bongo as the President.

Anyway, Gabon is supposed to have about 400 Megawatts of electricity. I am using the word “supposed” because like just about every country in Africa, the word preventive maintenance is a foreign word.
Here is how the 400 Megawatts production is shaped. About 250 Megawatts comes from thermal reactors, the balance of 150 Megawatts comes from Hydro (my favorite and very green).
The hydro dams are located in Tchimbele, M’Bei , and Kinguélé, Poubara, Bongolo.
Over 75% of Gabonese have access to electricity; how many are really enjoying it is a different can of worm.

It is hard to tell if Gabon is meeting her needs, because lack of rainfall resulted in some blackouts in Libreville. One thing for sure, there is no extra-ordinary exploration of mineral resources in Gabon, an indication that, electricity is not enough.

Since we are only evaluating how much electricity is being produce, not who is in charge, I have to say with some reservations that the Bongos are doing a good job. However, if the banks in Switzerland would talk, and the question is what symbolic animal do we see in this landscape?

Well, weighing all that is involved, I will say we have hippos.

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.

Electricity Central African Republic

Here we are in Central Africa, and our journey has taken us to the Central African Republic, popularly know as CAR.
For starters, like most, and I mean most African countries, this is one place where they have a lot of mineral resources like diamond, uranium, gold, and natural resources like timber and oil. Did I say oil? Well, they have it but it is not being developed, because there is no electricity.
Blackouts are the norm in CAR, at times, the blackouts lasts for days. One will think with the mineral resources, even if there is no hydro, at least diesel powered generators sets can take care of the shortfall in electricity supply.
Folks, do I see another African leaders going to Switzerland like Mobutu and his cronies did. This whole idea of African leaders not liking the domestic Banks is nothing but stupidity. When they go to meet the maker, the European Bankers would have a field day or shall I say field days with the sweat of the little people in Africa.
Before independence, the colonial masters come to rape the colonies of the raw materials and the money; today, they sit and wait, and we take the money to them. This is Neocolonialism.
I do not see any cheetahs on this landscape, CAR is filled with hippos.

Electricity Cameroon

Cameroon has been Independent for more than 40 years. To-date less than 10% of the total population is enjoying electricity.

Thanks to oil flowing from the North (that is Chad) Cameroon is getting some amount of oil, without worrying about shipping and oil tankers. You think with this opportunity, the powers that are would take advantage and commission diesel generators to move them closer to the 21st century.

I do not want to come across as being mean or too hard, but what are those in authority doing with whatever proceeds and for that matter the resources that they have and are getting.

Cameroon seems to have some bauxite, and to mine and process it; Alucam (Canada) is using almost 50% of the electricity generated. You think with the high cost of aluminum (aluminium) on the world market, there would be investment in electricity. There are plans to build one or more hydro dams along the Sanage River. But folks, hydro takes more than 3 years to build; and I love it because it is as green as you can get when it comes to power generation, but until one is completed, you need, diesel generators. Sure, damming a locale results in displacement of animals and humanoids, but it GREEN and helps with irrigation.

I look at this landscape, and after more than 40 years of self-determination or Independence, I only see hippos, and no cheetahs

Electricity Chad

This is one country with the potential to be self sufficient if those running the government choose to.
Chad has a large reserve of oil, which is slowly being tapped, but lack of refinery means the oil has to be exported unrefined through the joint pipeline with Cameroon, and finished products IMPORTED; folks this sound like Africa in the colonial days when raw material go to the masters in Europe at bargain basement prices and then finished products return at exorbitant prices.
Maybe I am being a little too harsh on Chad, after all they just started their oil business, and petroleum refineries are not built over night.
With regard to the topic at hand, electricity production is about 96 Megawatts, and just about all of it is consumed (88 Megawatts). With these kinds of numbers, you are tempted to say Chad is meeting her needs when it comes to electricity, wrong! A large segment of the population rely on Biomass, firewood and dried animal manure for energy because the electricity and refined oil products are expensive.
Considering how long Chad has been “Independent”, there should have been more development than what has been done.

Folks, I see more hippos in this environment than cheetahs.

Electricity Nigeria part 1

I thought I will never make it to Nigeria, but I am finally here!.
First, for the record, Nigeria is the most populous nation on the continent of Africa, with more than 140 million people. Since I am only talking about electricity availability or lack of it, I am not going to broach the subject of literacy.

Nigeria is larger than Texas (in the USA).
Possible electricity generating capability (including installed, but not producing) is 6 Giga watts. Actual production is 2.6 Giga watts. Peak demand of the whole country is more than 30 Giga watts. FOLKS THAT IS A SHORT-FALL OF about 27 Giga watts.
With this facts stated, how do we analyze what we have. To begin, Nigeria is trying to do what is done in the USA, electricity would be produce and distributed by private companies. This is a noble idea, but with the country awash in extortion and bribery, how do you regulate electricity production by private companies across 10 States. How much bribe do you pay and to whom do you pay to get service across state lines.
The fact is electricity production of our present day is only about 10% of the actual demand. Blackouts are common across Nigeria.
The bulk of electricity production is from thermal reactors ( about 55%) while the rest is split between hydro and diesel.
So why is Nigeria in this mess? First, lack of maintenance. Second, equipment upgrade is foreign to those running the system, and for that matter, the government. With Nigeria drowning in oil, one will think new generators would be put in place about every year or 2 across the country.
Folks, this is supposed to be a blog, and not a thesis.
I would have to tackle this one at least one or two more times before I march on to Chad and Cameroon.The conclusion for now is, there is too much corruption across this landscape. It is exceptionally difficulty to do business at any level.

My personal take on Nigeria is that, there are more hippos stampeding on this landscape than there are cheetahs.

Electricity Benin

My electricity tour of Africa has taken me to Benin, and sadly, I do NOT know and do not have much to say about Benin.
From the time of Souru Migan Apithy to this present day, Benin has been the country cousin of every other country on the continent. This country has never shaken the idea of living in an ancient kingdom out of their system. The military people have not helped the situation during the years they were there.
When it comes to electricity, Benin has to rely on her neighbours, and would continue to do so until Benin has something to offer somebody else. Benin has no coal for electricity, no mountains with rivers flowing for Hydro, and definitely no oil for diesel generators.

Electricity Benin does not exist so far as I can tell.

Folks, I have scratched and scratch, and so far I see nothing but hippos on this landscape.