What links exist between development/poverty reduction and energy supply in Africa?
To illustrate: The lack of Eskom electricity in South Africa caused Rio Tinto, a major global player, to shelve a huge beneficiation project indefinitely, which probably means permanently. This entails the loss of 20 000 jobs in a country with an unemployment rate of about 40%. The EEG (or REFIT) law could have avoided this and similar catastrophes in Africa. The situation in affected neighbouring SADC countries is comparable: None have implemented the REFIT laws and all are restrained under the lack of private initiative through RE. The direct linkage between RE and the eight MDGs is obvious: they all depend on energy which currently is not being provided reliably. Goal number 8.6 “to build global partnerships with private sector new technologies” is pertinent and merits special attention. The mistake of spreading developmental resources too thinly, creating unrealistic expectations while disappointing stakeholders through sub-optimal technologies and services should be avoided. Inste
