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China is involved; it's a "do ut des" scenario in which China gets resources and Africa gets low cost energy. That's the reason I'm sure it will work, and it's

• thaumasiotes 3y ago
  > "do ut des" For those interested, this is Latin for "I give, so that you may give [presumably in the future]". More on topic, for the project to succeed the Chinese would need to be left in charge of operating the grid, which is likely to run into political difficulties. Building it isn't enough.
  • squarefoot 3y ago
    > For those interested, this is Latin for "I give, so that you may give [presumably in the future]". Yes, apologies for not specifying it. About the topic, I guess that the chances to obtain cheap energy, which would be vital for further industrial development in the areas involved, could convince local leaders to not mess with the projects, also with the perspective of cashing in public political support when time comes.
    • thaumasiotes 3y ago
      > I guess that the chances to obtain cheap energy, which would be vital for further industrial development in the areas involved, could convince local leaders to not mess with the projects, also with the perspective of cashing in public political support when time comes. That approach hasn't worked out for other African infrastructure, including already existing infrastructure. And one of the biggest ways to build political support is to promise to confiscate what non-Africans have. "Expropriation without compensation" is a major political slogan in South Africa. Things are similar elsewhere.