Page 24 - Vol 28 Issue 29 2019

energy column

End Energy Poverty in Africa to

Combat Climate Change

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

In addition, up to 34
percent of wood fuel in Sub-
Saharan Africa is harvested
unsustainably, contributing
to widespread deforestation
and land degradation.
According to World Bank
data in 2017, only 23.4
percent of the population in
Sierra Leone had electricity,
while over 90 percent rely
on charcoal and firewood
for cooking. In fact, access
to electricity is low across
West Africa, including Guinea
(35.4 percent), Liberia (21.4
percent), and Cote d’Ivoire
(65.6 percent). According to
Kandeh Yumkella, the former
Special Representative
of the Secretary-General
for Sustainable Energy for
Charcoal traders All, if current trends hold,
Africans will still be using
such fuels to cook in 2050.
In addition to damaging
lack carbon - emitted by gas and that across Africa, more than 80 percent the environment by contributing to the
diesel engines and released through of people use some form of wood fuel as rapid shrinking of Africa’s rainforests and
Bthe burning of wood, peat, charcoal, their primary source of domestic energy; woodlands, exposure to household air
and other solid fuels - is the second most more than 80 percent of households in pollution, especially smoke from cooking
significant contributor to climate change urban areas use charcoal, while firewood is fires, causes 3.8 million premature
after carbon dioxide. For most Africans used primarily in rural areas. All together, deaths each year, mostly in low- and
who lack access to affordable sources wood fuel consumption in Africa is likely middle-income countries, according to
of power, burning charcoal and wood to in billions of cubic meters each year. the World Health Organisation (WHO).
remains their sole source of energy.
98,000 Nigerian women die each year
However, as these fires burn across the from the use of firewood, with thousands
continent, black carbon and smoke do more at risk of severe health problems.
more than accelerate climate change; All that wood going up in After malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS,
they are also a source of serious health smoke has a real climate smoke is the biggest killer of women and
problems and a cause of ongoing children. It has emerged as an important
forest destruction. Fortunately, recent impact. It is estimated that risk factor in the spread and severity
progress suggests that it is possible to cooking using solid fuels like of chronic respiratory diseases like
provide alternative sources of energy wood and charcoal in Sub- chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive
to those in need and, in so doing, Saharan Africa alone accounts pulmonary disease, and asthma. But
address human health, climate change, for some 6 percent of global the solution is simple; according to
and deforestation all at the same time. black carbon emissions. Yumkella, ending household air pollution-
Africa has the highest per capita wood fuel related deaths is as straightforward
consumption in the world. It is estimated as delivering clean-cooking solutions.

24 | AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 28, Issue 29, 2019 Celebrating 10 years of excellence