Energy Crisis Of Uganda, And The Greater Eastern African Community

As the global population increases exponentially, having passed six billion in 1999, the world population is expected to be 8.9 billion by the year 2050. The worlds energy consumption will increase by an estimated 54 percent by 2025. Energy demand in the industrialized world is projected to grow 1.2 percent per year. Energy is a critical component of sustained economic growth and improved standards of living. One of the major requirements for sustaining human progress is an adequate source of energy. As the world’s technological enhancements and standards of living improve, so too does their appetite for electricity.

Freedman then talks about why there is so much energy poverty in Africa. In some places increasing economic growth and population growth have combined to overtake the supply of

These sources of energy have a great upside, but right now are incredibly inefficient compared with fossil fuels because of the lack of funding and worldly push (2009). If there isn’t a bigger investment in these alternative energies, fossil fuels are going to maintain their stranglehold on all the economies of the world (Lomborg, 2009).

Dry weather has also diminished the water supply that powers Kenya’s hydroelectricity plants, the source of about 70 percent of the country’s total generation.[5] Although minimally developed, the

Global oil crisis of the early 1970s strongly emphasized the importance of renewable energy sources.

Just look at Uganda you will see destruction, chaos, horror. You can’t imagine what those families and kids are going through. All these things are from the greed and the quest for power by the rebels. In the fictional story The Pearl by steve steinbeck and the documentary War Dance the greed and for power ruins Kino’s and Dominic's life.

In sub Saharan Africa, the region's wild rivers, windswept savannas and sunny skies represent a vast challenge and an enormous opportunity for a region starved for power.

The consumption of energy in developing countries is rising rapidly, and by the end of the next century will dominate energy markets worldwide. Even allowing for a growth rate in the demand for energy in the developing countries 1-2 % lower than the present trend, the demand is likely to exceed 100 million barrels a day oil equivalent (mbdoe) by 2010, and possibly 200 mbdoe (K.Pickering and L.Owen 1995).

So the realization of the project can be considered the minimum condition and the basis for attracting investments and improving the economy of the country. So for the long term plans the Uganda needs electricity. Uganda’s GDP vs. other sub-Saharan countries Country Population Power consumed per GDP (US mil) GDP per GDP per capital annual capital (kWh) capital (%) growth 1990 to 2001 Uganda 22,788 71 5,675 249 3.6 Dem. Rep. of 52,354 73 5,187 99 -7,7 Congo Kenya 30,736 130 11,396 371 -0,6 Rwanda 7,933 18 1,703 196 -1,3 Sudan 31,695 70 12,525 395 3,2 Tanzania 34,450 80 9,341 271 0,4 good 2. Financial aspects of the Dam project. ?

In the article, “Sorry, Bill Gates, But You’re Wrong on Renewable Energy” written by Jigar Shah and published by Time, we are given a blogging quote by Bill Gates. Gates says that cheap electricity should be distributed to poor countries to protect them from indoor air pollution that comes from burning dung, or anything else to cook. Shah reiterates by saying, and backs up, that investing into renewable energy sources are the better choice for poor countries. Not only for them because of its reliability but cheaper for us, the audience, to invest in for them. Even though he has a few good points why renewable energy is a better option, and his audience should believe him, he does not deliver it in a professional

The energy sector accounts for about 2.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. However, this sector has a greater importance than that because it affects all types of economic activities in the country. Historically, this sector has always had a deficit because the shortage of resources in the country.

Nearly three billion people worldwide rely on biomass fuels (2.4 billion) and coal (0.4 billion) burnt inefficiently on open fires or simple stoves. These traditional household energy practices have dramatic consequences for health, the environment and socio-economic development. Ensuring access to clean and efficient household energy is therefore a major and urgent challenge faced by low- and middle-income countries. Energy is a key factor for economic and social development. Worldwide, more than two billion people lack access to sustainable and modern energy technologies, (Amigun et al, 2008). In African energy sector, reform is rampant, institutional roles are shifting and new players are entering the market. Rising prices of crude oils and its related pollution which has seen decline in ozone layer has seen many countries adopting renewable methods to substitute this. Othere energy sources like electricity are still out of reach by many people. energy needs of the developing world have to be met in a sustainable manner. The invention and diffusion of green energy technologies in developing countries is one of the strategies perceived as instrumental in combating the negative effects related to the use of traditional hearths (Rwiza, 2009).

Ethiopia belongs to the non-oil exporting less developed countries of Africa. Ethiopia imports all of its petroleum products and the demand for petroleum fuel is rising rapidly due to the growing economy of about 10% GDP growth and infrastructure development. In the second quarter of 2007/08, petroleum imports exceeded export earnings by 30%. With the recent trends and volatility of oil prices, the country has been forced to develop a biofuel strategy to mitigate the impacts of imported oil on its economy. The strategy encourages the diversification of energy supplies in the transport sector; therefore, biofuel offers significant opportunities for Ethiopia (MME, 2007). Ethiopia’s demand for electricity and petroleum fuels will grow at 11.6 and 9.3

In Ghana, however, the practice of delivering modern energy systems has been existent for several decades. It is evidence from the amount of interactions and initiatives the

The energy people use today drastically affects not only the United States economy, but the global economy as well. Gas prices have jumped up dramatically in the past few years with no sign of dropping, this is because the world is too dependent on gas for their cars, and there isn’t enough supply to reach the demand. “Saudi Arabia’s oil is vital to meeting world demand, explains Klare, yet Saudi Arabia will soon experience a sharp decline in output. Klare believes this will lead to a worldwide oil shortage” (1) He warns that in order to prevent a crisis; steps must be taken now to limit oil consumption and develop energy alternatives. The automotive industry has produced some hybrid cars, but the problem is that too many people already have cars that just run on traditional gas. In general Oil prices have grown in two years, this is a reason to switch to renewable energy. Up and coming foreign countries such as India and China have also expressed interest in renewable resources because they are concerned for their economies as well, fossil fuels negatively effect them as well as us, so the economy is a worldwide motive to search for cleaner, less expensive energies that would not harm their economies.