DIRTY ENERGY IN AFRICA

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International argues that the pursuit of 'dirty energy'—including fossil fuels, nuclear power, and megadams—is causing severe environmental and social harm across Africa while failing to resolve energy poverty. The document highlights specific case studies of destructive energy projects in South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and Mozambique, and calls for a transition toward community-controlled renewable energy and 'energy sovereignty'.

• Sub-Saharan Africa is identified as the most 'electricity poor' region globally, with over 620 million people lacking electricity access and nearly 730 million people relying on inefficient and unhealthy cooking fuels like biomass.
• South Africa is heavily dependent on coal, which provides approximately 90% of its electricity and 77% of its primary energy needs. This reliance is centered in Mpumalanga, where Eskom operates 12 coal-fuelled power plants that contribute to severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in nearby communities.
• The African Development Bank has been a significant financier of coal, acting as the second largest regional donor for coal projects globally between 2007 and 2013, providing US$2.8 billion.
• Uganda is expanding its oil sector, with the government issuing eight production licences in August 2016 to companies including Tullow Operations Pty Ltd, Total E&P Uganda BV, and CNOOC Uganda Ltd. The 'Albertine Graben' region may contain up to 6.5 billion barrels of oil, though extraction threatens high biodiversity and the mountain gorilla.
• In Mozambique, the proposed Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric dam on the Zambezi river is expected to cost over US$2.3 billion. The project is criticised because 85% of its generated power is intended for export, primarily to South Africa's Eskom, rather than for local rural electrification.
• Nigeria possesses some of the world's largest unconventional oil reserves, with bitumen and 'extra-heavy' oil estimated at 38 billion barrels. Recent developments include a Joint Operating Agreement in Ondo state with a subsidiary of the American company Liquefied Resources to target 10,000 barrels daily.
• The Maghreb region, specifically Algeria, is a major energy supplier to Europe, with approximately 84% of Algeria's liquified natural gas (LNG) exported there. Morocco has invested in solar energy, but the Ouarzazate Concentrated Solar Power plant has been criticised for 'green land grabbing' of 3,000 hectares of communal land.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2016). DIRTY ENERGY IN AFRICA. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/DIRTY-ENERGY-IN-AFRICA-EN-FINAL.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. DIRTY ENERGY IN AFRICA. 2016. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/DIRTY-ENERGY-IN-AFRICA-EN-FINAL.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=DIRTY ENERGY IN AFRICA |date=November 2016 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/DIRTY-ENERGY-IN-AFRICA-EN-FINAL.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2016dirty, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{DIRTY ENERGY IN AFRICA}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2016}, month = nov, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/DIRTY-ENERGY-IN-AFRICA-EN-FINAL.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }