Promotion Of Renewable Resources In Africa
It is a fact that Africa has many resources that are yet to be utilized for the better of the countries in her and the continent at large. And it is a fact that the need to promoting the renewable energy found will play a crucial role to sustainable development though at a high cost but it is an important decision to be made to arrive at the place we all hope for, development. The promotion of renewable resources that are found massively spread throughout the continent will contribute to the diversification of energy production and supply, reduce energy source use dependency and this will be a base for a long term production and since the energy is renewable it will be sustainable and thus sustainable development. Promotion of sustainable use of renewable resources is one of the many goals that Africa can have and has to arrive at a greater step, development. The most factors to consider is the integration of the key stakeholders that play a large role ensuring the goal set achieved. Such stakeholders include the government as the overseer, the investors as the private and the people as the public ensuring the achievement of the goal socially, economically and environmentally through the exploitation and manufacturing of resources.
First, the need to directing finances to channels that facilitate the production of renewable resources should be done. Finance will always come first when planning for promotion and development. Financing the project can be done through directing the international development grants and aids to renewable resources promotion and production rather than short-term infrastructures and plans. In addition, investing in the public and national resources can be done to pave a way to creating a better environment and climate to attracting investors through fiscal incentives and improved systems that will extend the support to investments. This will enable potential investors to act on what will be beneficial to them and the public at large.
Second, the need to creating a better legal system that will play a crucial role in pricing legislation while integrating local and independent producers into existing system ensuring a win to both local and independent producers and the state. The legal measures and strategy include the issues of tariffs and regulations that will continuously be effective to promotion of renewable resource use and production. The legal system will also act as the base of all operations as it is the one acting on issuing permits to workers and investors who are local and foreigners. In addition, the legal system deals with solving different operation disputes and ensuring a favorable environment to both the foreigner and locals with consideration.
Third, technology use in the implementation of sustainable energy production and promotion activities through locally based researches and the use of local manufacturing companies to boosting a general use of energy resources in the local communities. Although technology is still an issue in Africa comparing to other continents but, the use of a better but locally standardized researches and technology to promotion of energy will act as a catalyst to technological advancement in a long term which is the key to sustainable development. Starting with what we know and how to use it is what pave a way to change rather than receiving and using advanced technology applications that will require the help of foreigners to operate (if industries are locally operated) and ensuring what foreigners use is understandable to locals as they are the human capital.
Fourth, raising public awareness and capacity building through skills development, training and education. This is based on the majority, the citizens and those in positions to making policies to reaching the goal of sustainable promotion of renewable energy to sustainable development and even potential investors making this strategy the core to those mentioned above. Raising awareness is more than telling people what you have. Promoting understanding to sustainable energy resources found in Africa, to what scale and how beneficial they are act as means to persuasion to those interested and are likely to act upon opportunities for the better of the people like governments and institutions funded by the government regarding energy production and promotion and its use, the policy makers and investors. Moreover, through different school curriculum, introducing lessons based on renewable resources and technology application in energy production and promotion startups will act as a catalyst to development of institutions and companies based on energy.
Last, the need for an organized body that specifically and independently oversee renewable energy production such as a state department but connected to the electricity or energy security ministry. This will act as the management platform for the countries and continent to analyze everything related to renewable energy production and decide on different policies that will guide the sector’s long-term plan.
Understanding the naked truth that energy drives and control our every day’s life and Africa is blessed with an abundance of accessible renewable natural resources should not be overlooked then. In addition, as a leader I believe what W. Arthur Lewis said will come true making the need to developing integration between renewable natural resources and the sustainable energy important. “Natural resources determines the course of development and constitute the challenge which may or may not be accepted by the human mind”, W. Arthur Lewis. Renewable energy is the core and centre of all human sustainable development activities as it is clean, produced in an enabling environment and is less likely to be affected by its continuously use in production activities. If we decide to increase the flow of finances to the promotion of renewable energies in time, it will be understood to the public as the user that there are more sources of electricity than gas and petroleum and that is advantageous. To attract more investors, legal means and a better fiscal environment that will enable investors to work in a favorable environment financial and legally should also noted down.
Renewable energy promotion is likely to be faced with different challenges due to its nature and production prerequisites including high investment cost before breaking down for profit, requiring a large production area and lack of awareness to most citizens who are likely to be potential investors before the foreigners or international foreigners. As there is way always if there is a will, I believe coming together as Africans is what will make the promotion successful. As there is a spread out of resources across the continent with high expenses to be utilized, coming together is the most and foremost key to full capitalize such resources since it is likely to be hard country wise. Let us look at this; The Eastern Africa has the longest beaches in Africa with nice winds and if they can be used for wind energy production, the need for the Eastern African Community to come together to discuss and plan what can be done. It is a road less traveled with lot of challenges and may be conflicting since each country tries to see and work things to her benefit but if there is unity there is power and that will help to the production, generation and promotion of renewable resources.
