ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
Evaluation of the viability of any 3 sources of energy given in the Uganda’s energy policy.
By MUGIRA FREDRICK
It is evident that the fortunes of the world's human population, for better or for worse, are inextricably interrelated with the use that is made of energy resources.
-M. King Hubbert, Resources and Man, 1969
Energy policy is a plan of action for undertaking issues related to energy supply, demand, development of energy related industry and trade and consequences of energy activities (Merriam Webster Dictionary, Wikipedia Encyclopaedia ). This draws attention to the fact that energy policy looks at various sources of energy in a given country and how they can be effectively utilized in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to benefit the peoples’ demand for energy.
This essay concentrates on the energy policy for Uganda and further evaluates the viability of 3 energy sources. The energy sources are Hydroelectric, Solar and biomass energy .
The Energy policy for Uganda was formulated in September 2003 with its goal focussing on meeting energy needs of Ugandans for social and economic development in an environmentally sustainable manner (The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002).
“In formulation of this policy, we have considered the main characteristics of the energy sector in Uganda and its linkages with the rest of the economy and the international scene” ( Syda N. M Bbumba ).
In its offset, the energy policy for Uganda urges the case in favour of an energy policy for the country. It goes ahead to explore the energy sector in Uganda and its composition. It reveals the energy sector in Uganda as comprising of sub sectors of power, petroleum, new and renewable sources of energy and atomic energy.
The policy further dwells on energy consumption and gives the major sectors for energy consumption in the country as transport, industry and commerce, household and institutions and Agriculture.
Part 2 of the policy concentrates on what is called, “key Issues in the energy sector”. These include issues that affect the supply and demand of energy in the country. The policy goes ahead to tackle energy conservation in the country, the gaol and objectives of the policy and regulation principles for the sector.
Part 4 of the policy concentrates on the demand and supply strategies with in the energy sector while part 5 looks at the short and medium term policy priority actions including investments in the sector between 2000 to 2012 .
The Energy Policy for Uganda shows the sources and potential sources of energy in the country as being six in number. These include hydroelectric power which is generated from dams such as those along river Nile and in Kilembe mines in Kasese district.
The other sources of energy include petroleum products all of which are currently imported into the country. Petroleum exploration is also currently going on at Lake Albert which could help in production of petroleum products.
Biomass energy which includes mostly firewood, charcoal and crop residues is also talked about in the policy and is shown as constituting 90 percent of the total energy consumption in the country
Solar is also another source of energy shown in the Policy, others include wind, geothermal energy and atomic energy.
From the above 6 sources and potential sources of energy in Uganda, I feel the three sources I give below are the most viable.
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
This is the power generated from dams. In Uganda, such dams are along river Nile, while another is situated in Kasese district. Dams along river Nile generate 300 megawatts while the other dam in Kasese Cobalt Mines produces 17 megawatts to make a total of 317 megawatts as hydroelectric power generated in Uganda (The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002, African Economic Outlook 2003/2004).
Hydroelectric Power is viable in Uganda because it is inexhaustible or rather renewable. As long as there is water in rivers and lakes, which is provided freely by nature through the hitting of the seas and other water bodies by the sun which causes evaporation resulting into rains, this energy can be generated and keep on being supplied to the masses. In times of the decrease in water levels in the rivers and lakes, the generation of power may decrease but it is guaranteed of continuity. Certainly if rains increase, the generation of power can go back to the normal rate
Secondly, there are no wastes produced during the generation of this power. If they were there , such wastes could pollute the environment, a thing that leads to several problems including those which affect peoples’ health causing them to spend a lot of money in solving such problems. Unlike in fossil fuels where for example coal is burnt to produce electricity, in hydroelectric power, water just runs the turbines which in the end produce electricity to be supplied to people with no residues such as dangerous gases like carbon dioxide which causes global warming among other problems. Wastes that could destroy environment are also not there.
Thirdly, hydroelectric power stations produce high amounts of power unlike other sources such as geothermal. Uganda's hydroelectric power potential is estimated at 2000 megawatts (The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002).This subsequently makes it viable to benefit a lot of people even though they may be situated miles and miles from the dams. With the ever growing population of Uganda, such a source of power which supplies electricity in big amounts would be the one to rely on.
Fourthly, it is cheap on the side of customers or users. Once this power has been installed in your house or factory, you just keep paying bills at the end of the month. There is no need to buy or recharge the batteries. Likewise, once the dam is built, the energy is virtually free. Water keeps on running the turbines which produce the electricity. There is no need of fuel as it is done in the fossil fuel productions to run the turbines.
More still, dams can serve other uses apart from generation of electricity. Such purposes would include control of river flooding since water that would have been flooding is collected towards the dam to run the turbines. Another purpose is provision of water for irrigation. Water gathered at the dam can always be used for the purposes of irrigation in areas near the dam. Such dams can also work as tourist attractions hence bring into the country foreign exchange.
Unlike for example in solar type of power which can not be produced at night and times when there is no sunshine, hydroelectric power generation is constant. It can be produced anytime of the day as long as water is running. This makes it reliable and ideal for industries and hospitals which need power all day round.
When it comes to employment, hydroelectric power gives thousands of people jobs. The engineers, the sales executives, the administrators and those that read meters, all benefit from this source of energy through getting jobs. At least 1351 people were employed in the hydroelectric sector in Uganda during 2001 (www.afrepren.org/datahandbook2/pdfs/elec.pdf). This makes it ideal in helping people employed in this sector to earn a living and fight poverty.
On the other hand, generation of hydroelectric power is expensive especially in construction of a dam. This has partly been the reason why Uganda which is endowed with several sites on rivers where it can construct dams has not done so. An example here is Karuma falls on River Nile and Kikagate falls on river Kagera which are capable of producing electricity but the government has no enough funds to construct dams there. It is costly for the government to construct dams and that is why Uganda has been turning to donors to help it in construction of Bujagali dam on river Nile which has also taken long to take off.
Secondly, construction of a dam in a particular area disrupts surrounding ecosystems. Building of a dam in an area may cause flooding in that particular area which destroys or affects plants and animals that live in that particular area. This similar affects aquatic life in those rivers because the normal flow of water is altered and this may be harmfully.
More still, construction of a dam in a particular area may lead to relocation of people that were living there, interference with their culture and traditions like it is happening with the Basoga people who say construction of Bujagali dam will interfere with their gods at the falls. When people are relocated, the government spends a lot of money in this exercise because it involves compensation. All this makes this a risky and expensive venture to undertake.
Dams affect the quality of water in a lake or river where they are situated. An example is Kiira Dam on River Nile which has been criticized for decreasing the levels of water of Lake Victoria. Dams cause an increase in the flow of water from a lake, which means that more water would be lost from the lake and if there are no enough rains to replace this water being lost, there could be a problem of lack of enough water in a river to run the turbines which subsequently leads to production of little power.
Monthly payments of electricity bills make this power source expensive for an ordinary citizen who has no enough earnings. No wonder this particular source of power has been concentrated in urban areas where at least there are rich people who can afford to pay for it. In the rural areas: it is not there, people there can not afford to pay monthly bills.
Lastly, hydroelectric power relies on water for its production, so in situations of droughts which lead to decrease in water levels, turbines may fail to run. This means that little or no electricity would be produced. Such a scenario is currently happening in Uganda and the rest of East African countries where by the current dry conditions in the area have led to a decrease in water levels of lake Victoria and several other lakes in the regions which are the main suppliers of water to rivers on which dams supplying electricity in the three countries are situated. This has led to loadshedding every after a day. This is dangerous to business communities which use power for their transactions.
All in all, there is nothing that has advantages without disadvantages. Though hydroelectric power has some disadvantages, I feel it remains viable for the country because the alternatives are worse.
SOLAR ENERGY
This is the energy generated from the Sun. Uganda, which is situated along the equator has a solar radiation of about 4-5 KWH/m2/day which favors solar technology application (The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002, African Economic Outlook 2003/2004). This makes this power source viable.
Solar energy is viable for Ugandans because of several reasons which include among others the availability of financial incentives in form of loans from the central government through village banks to reduce on the costs of accessing this energy in homes. Government currently passes loans through microfinance institutions and the money is meant to help local people to buy solar equipment for their homes, shops and other businesses (The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002). This means that, with support form the central government, this source of energy can easily be accessed by the local people without having to pay much which in real sense they do not have.
Secondly solar energy is renewable. It can not be overexploited and get exhausted. The sun keeps on shinning which is just enough to be tapped and to generate power.
Thirdly, solar energy can be used in remote areas where hydroelectric power and other sources of energy such as geothermal can not be used (The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002:21). Such places are in for example the mountainous areas, remote areas, like those close to the Uganda-Sudan boarder. This means that people who live in such areas would not be left out of the plans to access power for economic development.
Solar energy source needs no fuel to keep it running like in the case of the energy produced from fossils which need to be burnt to produce electricity. With solar you just buy solar panels and connect them to start getting power. There is no need of buying fuel to produce power like in the case of a generator. This also makes this energy source viable in that it does not pollute air as a result of burning fuel.
More still, solar power is generated where it is needed. This means that there would be no costs needed to extend this power from say a dam as in the case of hydroelectric power to homesteads or industries. It operates independently and a homestead is the sole unit that utilizes it with no strings attached. This makes its management easy. In addition to this, there are no monthly bills to be paid. One just installs it and that is the end. This makes it cheaper.
Furthermore, since solar energy can be installed in anyplace, irrespective of terrain, remoteness and accessibility, this makes it ideal for supporting rural development and wealth creation there. Unlike hydroelectric power, solar energy does not concentrate in urban areas and along the roads. This means that if installed in rural areas, solar energy can support projects there intended to generate income for the local people as hydroelectric power is doing in urban centres. This subsequently fuels rural economics.
By the virtue of the fact that solar energy does not cause pollution including emission of dangerous gases, it does cause global warming. This makes it ideal in such that it is environmentally friendly and causes little or no harm to the surrounding environment and the environment beyond.
In case of the need for more power, one can just add solar panels and increase the production of energy. This is contrary to other sources such as hydroelectric power where there is need to construct another dam if more power is to be generated. This is currently happening in Uganda where by the demand for hydroelectric power in the country is high and the only need to satisfy it , has been seen as constructing new dams on River Nile such as Bujagali but not expanding the current dams on this river. This therefore, justifies the reason why solar energy is viable for Uganda in that, it is not costly to expand it.
Solar panels operate silently. They have no moving parts like in the case of a dam or wind farm. This makes solar environmentally friendly with no noise pollution which could cause health problems to people.
It is ideal for running satellites such as those of Television, Telephone and weather forecast plus internet because it can be installed onto satellite dishes that are in the air rotating around the globe. With increased globalisation, Uganda needs to invest much in communication technology so as to cope up with the rest of other nations. This means that without solar power, Uganda would be doing badly in this field of communication and subsequently it would lag behind in development.
On the other hand, solar energy needs sunlight to operate and in cases where there is little or no sunshine say at night, this would make it unreliable.
It is also expensive to install solar. One needs over a million to buy solar equipment and pay for installations. This is surely expensive for an average rural person in Uganda.
It is also not produced in large amounts. In fact people in rural areas resort to using it for lighting and playing radios and cassettes because it is not in high amounts like hydroelectric power. Several solar panels are needed to generate a decent amount of power. This is expensive for the people and the government also.
Lastly, it may be dangerous for the human health if installed improperly. If the sun rays which solar panels attract accidentally leak to humans, this may cause several diseases including skin cancer, a thing that is deadly leave alone being costly in searching for the cure which is not there.
All in all, though it has some disadvantages, its advantages outweigh its disadvantages which make it ideal for use especially in rural areas where masses have no access to alternative sources of power.
BIOMASS ENERGY
Biomass energy in Uganda includes energy produces from "firewood, charcoal, and crop residues".(The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002, African Economic Outlook 2003/2004). The other energy produced under biomass energy which is not common in Uganda is that from sugar canes, municipal wastes, livestock and human wastes among others. The common energy in Uganda under biomass comes from firewood, charcoal, and crop residues which,“constitute over 90 percent of total energy consumption in the country . It provides almost all the energy used to meet basic needs of cooking and water heating in rural and most urban households, institutions and commercial buildings"(The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002, 2002:19).
Biomass energy is viable for Uganda because it is cheap. Fire woods and crop residues, these are provided freely by nature. People in rural areas just go to forests or gardens and collect firewood with no fee paid. Likewise charcoal is cheap. A charcoal sack in most towns in Uganda now goes for about 10.000 shillings. Such a sack of charcoal can last for about a week in an average family of 4 members.
Secondly, this source of energy is renewable. Trees, scrubs among others keep on growing naturally while others are planted by man. This makes them inexhaustible and hence accessible all year round. Likewise for the human and livestock wastes, these would ever be there as along as human beings live and in most cases they are for free.
Trading in biomass energy is ideal in providing employment to rural uneducated people. Charcoal trade in Uganda, “employs 20000 people and generates Ushs 36 billion per year in rural incomes" (The Energy Policy for Uganda, 2002:20). This makes biomass viable for it does not only provide energy but also employment for especially rural masses.
More still, in case of energy from human and livestock wastes plus municipal wastes and sugar cane leftovers (bagasse), this helps to recycle and put to use materials that would have been wasted. In other words Biomass source of energy helps to use resources that would have been a nuisance to the community.
On the other hand , this particular source of energy is dangerous to the environment. It has led to tremendous cutting of trees to make charcoal and firewood. This is leading to deforestation. Subsequently deforestation is leading to several other problems such as global warming, drought, unpredictable weather patterns and reduction of water levels in lakes and rivers such as Lake Victoria and River Nile.
In addition , this biomass source of energy leads to production of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide which leads to destruction of ozone layer, a thing that causes a lot of sun rays to penetrate through the ozone layer and reach the earth. This subsequently leads to global warming.
More still, it is hard to collect enough and sufficient quantities of wastes say the livestock wastes to produce power. This makes this particular source of energy unreliable because at one time if such wastes are in scarcity, the power also would be in scarcity.
In addition, the process of producing power in this particular energy source, especially that from sugar canes and human and livestock wastes is costly. The process of burning solid wastes to provide heat used to make steam for running the turbines before power is generated surely is a long and costly process for government leave alone a local person. No wonder, government has been having plans to invest in this energy, but it has taken long to have it developed.
In conclusion, by the virtue of the fact that the 3 sources of energy given above are the ones used common in the country, it makes them viable. If they had not been viable, other means would have been more prominent than them.
NOTE
A better version of this text with graphics and proper references can be got free of charge from the author send email to- mugifred@yahoo.com
REFERENCES:
African Economic Outlook. (2003/2004), African Development Bank.
The Energy Policy for Uganda. (2002), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Kampala.
Useful Websites.
htt://eereweb.eedoe.gov.
http://home.clara.net
http://library.thinkquest.org
http://www.stthomas.edu/recycle/energy.htm
www.afrepren.org/datahandbook2/pdfs/elec.pdf
www.energyandminerals.go.ug/energypolicy.pdf
www.wikipedia.org
