Dirty Energy, dirty social economy- Africa is a Victim!

Zimbabwe like its peer republics in Southern, West, Eastern Africa is still ignorant and resistant in embracing new energy resources that are reliable and sustainable. There is limited attention prioritized for the transformation of energy resource infrastructure in Zimbabwe and other African Countries. There is much rhetoric when it comes to new energy policy than technical implementation. Africa need to abstain from dirty energy that results into dirty social-economies not suitable for its populace.

The southern –western districts in most capitals of Zimbabwe are located near air pollution(sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide) producing giant manufacturing industries that use thermal power for production of products and most of these residents from Rugare, Kambuzuma and Highfeilds suburbs work in these life threatening industrial sites. Many generations have worked and died of lung cancer related diseases . Such industrial giants have also contributed to the effects climate change in Zimbabwe and other republics.

In Mpumalanga district of South Africa, a country next door to Zimbabwe, is the red brick township of Thubelihle, the township that powers South Africa(through Eskom, South Africa power giant and provider). The town ship boasts of two giant coal stations Kriel and Matla. The coal belt of South Africa runs through Mpumalanga and as a result there is much coal supply and use in industries and domestic places around the coal mines , hence the erection of life and climate threatening coal power infrastructure .There are higher levels of air pollution since Eskom is failing to control emissions from these power stations that have impacted much on the environment, water, biodiversity ,climate and public health.

Sulphur dioxide is the main pollutant in these areas of South Africa and it is easily absorbed in blood and lungs resulting into diseases like Asthma, heart failure and other cancerous ailments. Outside Africa, China is said to have suffered such fate in the past but it has since adopted plans and policies that promote the use of Clean power. It is very important for African republics to speed up the implementation of new, reliable and sustainable energy policies and plans. Such will promote good social economies. Some three years ago Green Peace International, an environmental group revealed shocking revelations about ESKOM coal stations in South Africa that more than 2500 lives are lost annually and it remains superb that new energy infrastructure measures have to be adopted with serious attention and speed.

The Environmental Management body with the help of other organisations and government enacted the Air quality Act in 2010 and since then nothing much has been done to lower the levels of pollution and emissions, the health budget has rapidly increased to 4 billion Rand per year. Which is a lot of money that might have been used for other economic challenges and infrastructural growth if government was responsive in implementing new energy resource methods.

WHO reported that emissions are not only an African case but have also impacted on the health of the whole Global community, research has it that air pollution contributes to 1 in every 8 deaths and 33 million die of indoor pollution while 2 million die from outdoor pollution.

Efforts are also made by organisations like World Wide Fund for Nature in involving civil society, Energy Suppliers and regulators. It seems negotiations remain a rhetoric. South Africa is a bigger economic giant with giant industrial productions that supply almost half of the African Continent with employment and products, mind you energy revolution here will take more time to be achieved. They should be serious emphasis on the impact of dirty energy to global health and world economy.

Nigeria is also one giant African Economy with the top most population in Africa. Its Capital Lagos is another case study of an economy that is gripped by serious effects of poor energy infrastructure. Its population amount to 20million which is near double the population of Zimbabwe. Most people live around Industrial areas inhaling the exhaust from petrol automobiles and millions of diesel powered generators that power the city and its economy. Air pollution is rapidly reaching higher levels .In this case the sources of pollution are many – car exhaust, wood burning, garbage burning, fuel stoves, petrol chemical plants and diesel generators. This study was revealed by Professor Mathew Evans, who is a professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at New York Univeisty.The professor argued that in most African countries mostly in West Africa , emissions are mostly anthropogenic- (those mainly caused by human activities).If not averted the air pollution levels by 2030 in West African cities like Lagos and others will be far reaching tremendous levels and the issue of air pollution and poisonous gas emissions have become a growing problem in Africa. Africa like other states has become an area of focus of Scientists.

Poor, unreliable and dirty energy resources have become a contributing factor to poor public health, demise of continental economy, climate patterns and investment trust. There is no much attention given to pollutions and emissions. Instead there is poor funding and poor statisical reports. The World Health governing body WHO revealed that Botswana is also one of the most polluted country in the world. It is also revealed that indoor pollutions contributed to more than 600 000 deaths in Africa annually, which is a very high figure. These revelations demand a very strong and relevant approach in infrastructuring our energy into a clean, sustainable, reliable, environmental, health and economic friendly energy economy.

Africa will cease to be a victim !

The support material of this article is from Mail and Guardian Newspaper, SA, the Standard Newspaper and Quartz Africa.
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