More than 90 percent of South Africa’s electricity generation comes from abundant coal, contributing to high climate-changing CO2 emissions.
This represents a challenge for South Africa as the world prepares to gather in Durban for the important 17th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
At the same time, South Africa is starting its ambitious purchase programme for renewable energy with plans for 3 725 megawatts of renewable power to be installed over the next few years. Hence, South Africa demonstrates the importance of electricity for growth and job creation, while embarking on the critically needed transition towards a low carbon economy. These are very encouraging steps.
The country has been remarkably successful in providing improved energy access to its people. Before 1990, less than a third of the population had access to electricity. By the end of the decade, that proportion had doubled.
Today, 75 percent of households are electrified. However, there are regional differences. According to the Department of Energy, 85 percent of the households in the Western Cape have access to electricity, whereas in the Eastern Cape that percentage is only 61 percent.
South Africa has come a long way in a short time, but the statistics show that continued efforts are necessary to secure stable and reliable energy access for all.
Electricity failures create huge problems: for the girl who cannot attend evening classes, for the doctor who cannot keep medicines cool, for the businessman who has to close down production. Such problems are widespread in many developing countries. Many people have no access to electricity at all. They depend on burning coal or other fuel for cooking and heating. The pollution this causes is not only dangerous for families in their homes, it is also detrimental for the climate. The introduction of more modern and efficient stoves can help. This would enable families to save time and money, breathe cleaner air in their homes, and, at the same time, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy is hope: hope for economic development, for a better future. Together with its partners, Norway is working to establish an international energy and climate initiative to increase access to energy services and limit greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector in developing countries. This initiative was presented at the conference titled “Energy for all – financing access for the poor” in Oslo this month.
The conference was organised by the International Energy Agency and Norway. Several South African representatives also attended.
Today, 1.4 billion people lack electricity. That is 20 percent of the world’s population. Many countries also have frequent power cuts due to an overburdened grid and inefficient energy use.
Better energy systems would benefit everyone, and would improve the economy and environment.
Energy for all is an important goal. This means much more than just providing each family with a light bulb and the opportunity to charge a cellphone. It means creating jobs, strengthening the economy and making it possible for doctors to use lifesaving equipment and medicines. It also means giving people access to new, clean cooking facilities. Today, about 1.5 million people – mainly women and children – die due to the cooking facilities in their homes.
If we are to achieve energy for all – including for industry – we must plan 10 to 20 years ahead. Electricity consumption will increase over these years, at the same time as there is considerable potential for using electricity more efficiently. Without a plan for improving efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions will increase.
To achieve the goal of access to more sustainable forms of energy, efforts are needed from many parties. The countries concerned must give priority to this sector and provide a good framework for investment. Companies must identify opportunities. Rich countries and the major international institutions must play their part, and so must NGOs, by providing information and implementing concrete measures to increase access and improve efficiency.
Norway wants to play a leading role in this work. We would like to take part in the financing of energy developments in other countries based on the results achieved in terms of increased energy access and reduced emissions for the country as a whole. We encourage companies to invest in enterprises that increase energy access in poor countries.
If the countries themselves, the donors, the international institutions and the business sector join forces in putting energy for all on the agenda, it would be possible. Political will is vital for change.
Energy for all represents hope for a better future – for all. And together we can make it happen.
l Solheim is Norway’s minister of the environment and international development .