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So Africa puts itself second in other to meet the needs of the First World? Haven't we seen that before? It didn't work out well. That model only makes sense if

So Africa puts itself second in other to meet the needs of the First World? Haven't we seen that before? It didn't work out well. That model only makes sense if decision makers in Africa are paid to "look the other way."

ggm 4y ago
You're howling at the moon. Capital is being invested for profit. If the capital sources don't see profit (or as much profit) in the medium term from Africa, what do you expect them to do? Nobody would dismiss a serious proposition to do this for African economic and social benefit. But, Africa isn't a nation, its a continent. Do the maths, and you will find Kinchasa is further away than London. The relative cost of power in Africa would exceed the equivalent percentile of income per capita from Europe by a country mile. So, it would be both relatively more expensive for those consumers, and probably as an income stream to the investors more risky. I'm not in favour of this analysis btw. I would prefer that what you want happened but this is not a state enterprise investment for social development its a play for income from the UK energy market. Nigeria is closer. It's a huge market and its flush with money. I don't live there, but I bet it has a lot of dirty power sources, since its an oil-rich economy. Displacing Oil with clean energy.. is hard. The same complaint could be made of the AU-SG cable proposal: why the hell is it selling power to Singapore when the population of the NT in Australia is so dysfunctionally under-budgeted? And, why is it bypassing energy hungry Indonesia with 250+m consumers? Well.. it turns out the NT will be getting cheap power, and jobs, and Indonesia will probably buy HVDC sourced electricity before the cable reaches Singapore but the economics are pretty clear: Singapore has the money and wants the power: thats where the profit lies.
pestatije 4y ago
That's exactly what eastern Australia states are doing with our gas
- ggm 4y ago
  Yes. And the gas companies say what W.A. did "won't work" and to suggest it is applied becomes "sovereign risk". Ha! they'd continue to extract wealth from the eastern states, even with a fixed price supply to domestic consumers. Its bogus as shit. Andrews is on the money proposing re-nationalising state power and ending the faux market economy in public utility. But that said, Australia IS a single economy, where Africa isn't.

ggm 4y ago

You're howling at the moon. Capital is being invested for profit. If the capital sources don't see profit (or as much profit) in the medium term from Africa, what do you expect them to do? Nobody would dismiss a serious proposition to do this for African economic and social benefit. But, Africa isn't a nation, its a continent. Do the maths, and you will find Kinchasa is further away than London. The relative cost of power in Africa would exceed the equivalent percentile of income per capita from Europe by a country mile. So, it would be both relatively more expensive for those consumers, and probably as an income stream to the investors more risky. I'm not in favour of this analysis btw. I would prefer that what you want happened but this is not a state enterprise investment for social development its a play for income from the UK energy market. Nigeria is closer. It's a huge market and its flush with money. I don't live there, but I bet it has a lot of dirty power sources, since its an oil-rich economy. Displacing Oil with clean energy.. is hard. The same complaint could be made of the AU-SG cable proposal: why the hell is it selling power to Singapore when the population of the NT in Australia is so dysfunctionally under-budgeted? And, why is it bypassing energy hungry Indonesia with 250+m consumers? Well.. it turns out the NT will be getting cheap power, and jobs, and Indonesia will probably buy HVDC sourced electricity before the cable reaches Singapore but the economics are pretty clear: Singapore has the money and wants the power: thats where the profit lies.

pestatije 4y ago

That's exactly what eastern Australia states are doing with our gas

ggm 4y ago
Yes. And the gas companies say what W.A. did "won't work" and to suggest it is applied becomes "sovereign risk". Ha! they'd continue to extract wealth from the eastern states, even with a fixed price supply to domestic consumers. Its bogus as shit. Andrews is on the money proposing re-nationalising state power and ending the faux market economy in public utility. But that said, Australia IS a single economy, where Africa isn't.