This outstanding article below, by PD Lawton, creator of the website, AfricanAgenda.net, and a colleague of mine, provides an excellent presentation on the need for energy in Africa; particularly nuclear energy.
Nuclear Energy Can Eliminate Poverty in Africa
Nuclear Energy: Employment Creation, Science and Technology
The nuclear industry acts as a science driver for an economy unlike the renewables industry. Nuclear promotes research and development at the high end of science. The need for high level skills is an opportunity for Africa to uplift the labour market.
Koeberg is Africa`s first and at present, only nuclear power station, situated in Cape Town, South Africa. It provides in excess of 1500 highly skilled permanent employment opportunities, and that is consistant for up to 80 years.
Nuclear is a high density form of energy which makes it the most progressive source of energy production unlike wind and solar which are low density.
A volume equivalent to a couple of soft drink cans of uranium will supply 1 person`s energy needs for the duration of their life!
If Koeberg ran on coal, it would take 6 train-loads of coal every day to keep it at 2000MW capacity. In fact it takes 1 truck-load of uranium per year!
Compared to hydro and renewables, nuclear has a very small land footprint.
Lawrence Freeman is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, who has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for over 30 years. He is the creator of the blog: lawrencefreemanafricaandtheworld.com. Mr. Freeman’s stated personal mission is; to eliminate poverty and hunger in Africa by applying the scientific economic principles of Alexander Hamilton.
*(To the followers of my website, you many have noticed the absent of new posts over the last two weeks. That is because I went on on a 108 mile backpacking trip on the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia’s Shenandoah Park.)
The reason why Ethiopia is under attack remains a puzzle because no western nation stood against the oppressive rule of of the TPLF for nearly 30 years; if at all democracy is an issue. Ethiopia has never seen Democratic election as the one we have witnessed last June. Even more, the attack on the Northern Command is unprecedented, and the retaliatory measure by the Federal Government cannot be considered an overreaction since any government anywhere could have done the same.
The only possible reason I could give is the corrupt links that the TPLF has established with Western political elites in general and its cronies in the White House in particular.
Read my earlier post: What’s Wrong with U.S. Policy for Ethiopia and Africa?
Thank you