Ethiopia Spearheads the Green Energy Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa

Ethiopia is spearheading the green energy revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa as it has become the home of the largest wind farm in the region. See more.......http://uk.news.yahoo.com/ethiopia-spearheads-green-energy-sub-saharan-africa-155249432.html?.tsrc=lgwn

Climate Change is Upon Us

How many more disasters can we take? Just a few days ago, Typhoon Haiyan claimed the lives of thousands of people and damaged property running into millions of dollars. A World Bank report released yesterday attributes three-fourths of annual damages from global disasters to extreme weather conditions. For 2012, it estimates annual damages attributable to global disasters at $200 billion. Yet, some still believe that climate change is a hoax or perhaps the urgency being given to climate change mitigation is overemphasized.

At the same time, tensions and fears are mounting at the nineteenth Conference of Parties (COP 19) in Warsaw, Poland as the aim to forge a legally binding global climate treaty to cut carbon emissions appears challenging due to the differing interests of developed and developing countries. Hopefully, these talks will provide some direction for addressing climate change post 2020. If not, should African countries develop a framework for addressing climate change outside the United Nation Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) considering the evidence that the continent may be more vulnerable to climate change? See more...... http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/19/2968161/global-disaster-damage-200-billion/

Amnesty International on Shell and Agip Spills

Amnesty International in a report released today has criticized the multinational company Shell and Agip - a subsidiary of Eni for failing to control oil spills associated with their activities thereby polluting the environment and endangering the lives of millions of Nigerians. The report targeted mainly at Shell punched holes in its claim that numerous oil spills were due theft and sabotage arguing that the company lacked evidence to support its claim and should perhaps look at flaws in its operational performance. On Agip, the report raises the issue of the “scale of spills” which suggests that the company is unable to effectively manage its operations. Currently no response has been forthcoming from Shell however the Guardian in London reports that the London office has stated that these claims by Amnesty are unsubstantiated assertions and that its wants “greater transparency and independent oversight” in handling oil spills. Read more......http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR44/028/2013/en

Ethiopia Steps Up on the Renewable Energy Challenge in Africa.

Africa's biggest wind farm has begun production in Ethiopia, aiding efforts to diversify electricity generation from hydro-power plants and help the country become a major regional exporter of energy. Africa's second most populous country - plagued by frequent blackouts - plans to boost generating capacity from 2,000 MW to 10,000 MW within the next three to five years.

Much of the increase would come from the 6,000 MW Grand Renaissance Dam under construction on the Nile. The US $290m Ashegoda Wind Farm was built by French firm Vergnet SA with concessional loans from BNP Paribas and the French Development Agency (AFD). The Ethiopian government covered 9 percent of the cost.

"Various studies have proved that there is potential to harness abundant wind energy resources in every region of Ethiopia. We cannot maintain growth without utilising the energy sector," Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said in a speech at the launch. Experts put Ethiopia's hydropower potential at around 45,000 MW and geothermal at 5,000 MW, while its wind power potential is believed to be Africa's third-largest behind Egypt and Morocco. Read more: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/10/africa-biggest-wind-farm-opens-ethiopia-2013102713165843147.html

Unlocking Africa’s Solar Energy Potential: Learning from South Africa.

Do you the country that boasts of the world’s fastest growing investment in clean energy? Well, if you do not, look the way of South Africa. Jumping from a few hundred million dollars to $5.7 billion, South Africa recorded last year the world's highest growth in renewable energy investment, according to the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP).The spectacular surge, led largely by investments in solar power projects, comes as South Africa moves to reduce its dependency on coal, which accounts for around 86% of its energy. To achieve that, the country has set the ambitious target of generating 18 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy by 2030. Read more:
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/29/business/bright-sun-bright-future-africa/index.html?iref=allsearch

Terrorism Threat to Energy Resources and Infrastructure in Africa?

Terrorism is gradually gaining hold in many African countries. Apart from the effects of terrorism to human life amongst many others, should we care about its effect to the already inadequate and undeveloped energy resources and infrastructure in Africa? I guess we are usually too busy caring for other things than to think about how we get energy in our homes or fuel for our cars to the extent of thinking of how terrorism could affect all these.  

The fight against terrorism for many is the concern of the affected country or region. Our attitudes can be perhaps best described as ‘can’t care less cos it’s not here yet’.  Just yesterday, a friend in Nigeria seemed disinterested in the bombing of a school by Boko haram militants because it was so far from where she lived or perhaps the atrocities of Boko haram were becoming somewhat commonplace to arouse any interest.

But, it must be understood that energy forms an integral element for Africa’s development. I do not want to get into the sentiments of whether foreign investors or companies in Africa are the best or not. However, investments in African energy is crucial to African development. In January this year, an Islamist terror group launched an attack on the gas plant in Amen 

as in Algeria which many security experts considered a turning point in North Africa and the worldwide energy industry, citing it as the worst terrorist attack on oil and gas installations in the industry’s 150-year history. A few weeks back, Genel energy suspended its exploration operations in Somali land due to security concerns.

Critical energy infrastructures (CEI) are increasingly becoming a prime target for terror groups. Critical energy infrastructures include installations and networks for generating electricity and the extraction of oil and gas, storage and refineries, liquid gas terminals, nuclear power stations, water dams and transport and distribution systems. For people like myself, losing some sleep over how terrorism affects energy is a long shot but it is definitely bound to get my attention if it interferes with the many fun things I would like to do i.e. watch my favourite shows on TV due to power outages, shortage of fuel for our generators, inability to charge our many fancy gadgets like laptops, tablets etc meaning a disconnect from our facebook, twitter, Skype and other social networks there may be. In short, we should take some time to think of how all the fun activities we enjoy are linked to energy. I ASSURE you, terrorism poses a threat to everything we hold dear.

Just before I go, have you considered ECOCIDE?

Greenpeace Activists Protests Oil Drilling in the Arctic

The environmental organisation Greenpeace is to appeal against the detention of 30 of its activists in Russia over a protest in the Arctic. It demanded their immediate release, after a court in Murmansk remanded 22 of them in custody for two months pending an investigation.
Read More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24298287