23/01/2024
*ENERGY POVERTY* .
RURAL ENERGY NEXUS.
In an era when such futuristic technologies as AI,(artificial intelligence),robotics, and quantum computing are here,on the horizon, almost half of of the country's population in Zambia more than 13million lack the electricity for heating, cool,light their homes and for basic small scale entrepreneurship.
Now in the context of economic strength,the energy resource is basically an economic resource component that is meant for serious commercial and industrial development as opposed to social entertainment and domestic use.
The case for Zambia and Africa in particular, this energy poverty impedes almost every aspect of life ,affecting education health care and businesses ,as the supply energy resource is inadequate and some times often unavailable especially Congo 🇨🇩, Angola 🇦🇴 and Malawi 🇲🇼.
This gives us the reality that, access to electricity in Africa is still a huge dream to many millions of the African population.
The lack of foresight and interest to economically develop and propagate, and exploit the available energy sources in Africa creates a serious negative benchmark of poverty in the energy economy.
Many African countries, are still using a tradition mindset of not seeing the value of energy as an economic resource,as energy is an industry on its own.
Which if well developed can enhance radical economic growth of a country in energy exports.
The country Zambia, positions herself strategically, for market as a land linked, giving us an advantage for easy energy exports to the available huge market in the SADC region and beyond.
The government's position so far in the energy sector is encouraging, and we want to see much of the clean renewable energy projects to complement the hydro power system expedited to enhance grid stability and power exports.
The rural economy, should be put at the centre of this concept for any meaningful felt results to be achieved uniformly at national level.
For us to curtail deforestation, the private sector should interface with government to encourage investment in renewable energy to enhance climate resilience to protect and restore ecosystems to effectively manage the circular economy.
Mini-solar grid development in rural areas will help accelerate phasing out charcoal burning, to sustain the environment towards a net-zero achievement.
The green economy ministry should create a mainstream focal point for the rural economy of Zambia to enhance climate resilience action.
The author is an energy scholar.
*SAKAZENENE EDWARDS CHITETA.*
PGE SOLUTIONS GROUP LTD
CEO.