A low carbon strategy for the energy sector in Africa – the role of natural gas

There is a massive need for power sector investment in Africa. Today, more than half of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa are facing a crisis evidenced by rolling blackouts. Businesses in the region report access to reliable electricity as their main challenge. Filling this power backlog is essential to economic development and job creation.

Unless large-scale hydropower storage dams are available, countries will require regulating power from thermal sources to balance renewables. African countries are increasingly using coal, heavy fuel oil and diesel to meet increased demand. However, gas is a far cleaner alternative.

Norconsult Africa will at this meeting present a study of the potential future role of natural gas in power generation, with a focus on the East Africa Region, where significant quantities of natural gas have recently been discovered. What is the potential role that natural gas could play in the future power generation fuel mix, and how could this enhance the development and growth of renewable energy power plants as part of the overall energy supply mix?