With a population estimated at 7 million inhabitants in 2015 and very unevenly distributed over a territory of only 56 600 km², access to energy is a very crucial challenge in Togo. Only 33% of the population has access to electricity. Togo produces only 10% of its energy consumption and imports the rest of the countries of the subregion to exorbitant deployment costs. This is the main cause of the unequal access of the population to energy (only 5% of the rural population reached, the rest reserved for urban areas). From unbearable burdens to the new environmental challenges, an energy transition is needed in Togo, as everywhere else in the world.
The Electric Power Company of Togo (CEET) is the state body responsible for the production, import and distribution of electricity. It produces only 28.2 megawatts (MW) through thermal power plants and a single hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 1.6 MW.
The country imports 200 MW of Nigerian Transmission Company, 100 MW of the Contour Global independent power plant and only 60 MW of the Volta River Authority Hydroelectric Power Station (Ghana).
Of the 388.2 MW of electricity, only 61.6 MW comes from hydroelectric plants. By 2015, the country had an electricity grid of only 7,134 km. Electricity accounts for only 4% of energy consumption in Togo compared with 20% of petroleum products and 76% of biomass (mainly wood and charcoal).
Electricity: billions of billions and heavy debts
At CEET, production comes back at 105F CFA / KW or 0.16 Euros. This price does not take into account other factors such as maintenance, deployment, management and depreciation costs. For social reasons, it is the government that sets the Kilowatt price for distribution and forces CEET to a sale price below the cost of production. But as Togo's purchasing power is very low, people are still complaining about the high cost of electricity.
To obtain an electrical connection for domestic use, It is necessary to pay much more than the minimum wage in Togo (35 000F CFA).
According to the CEET, illegal connections are recurrent and plunge the company into bankruptcy. In 2015, the company was in debt to the tune of 38 billion CFA francs, a little more than 58 million euros. The illicit connections entail a shortfall of 20 billion CFA francs, ie 30.5 million euros. Togo's enormous energy investment is far from satisfying the need for industrial and domestic energy, while the country has significant potential for renewable energy.
The hydraulic and solar potential of Togo
The relief of Togo draws an impressive river system carrying a potential of 23 hydroelectric sites mainly on the Mono and Oti rivers. Togo is reported to have an energy output of 850 Gigawatt-hours (GW / h) or 850000 megawatts-hours (MW / h), more than 2000 times the current energy imported at hundreds of billions.
Even if water power is a solution to environmental problems (pollution, greenhouse effects and climate change), its investment entails enormous costs, well beyond the financial capacity of poor states such as Togo . This is evidenced by the saline bill for the construction of the Adzralala dam between Togo and Benin. For a capacity of 150 MW, this dam will cost 550 million US dollars or about 275 billion CFA francs.
According to research published by the University of Lomé, The solar field is a strong potential, especially by the torrid sun of the dry seasons. It estimates the average global solar energy in excess of 4 kWh / m² / d with power levels exceeding 700 Wc / m².
An energy transition is essential!
According to a 2006 study, 54% of electricity consumption in Togo amounts to domestic use, compared with 31% in the industrial sector. This tendency could go to extremes if the government had the means to provide electricity to the 7 million Togolese.
"CIZO", the hope of a healthy and renewable electricity for all by 2022
"CIZO" in the language "EWE" in the south of Togo, means "to light! Or, light up! ". It is by this term that the Togolese government identifies its project to provide electricity for 300,000 households, equivalent to 2,000,000 Togolese in 5 years. This will be through solar plates at reduced cost. For a total of 8.7 billion CFA francs, just over 13 million euros, the British BBOXX will equip each of the 300,000 households with a solar installation on a 12V battery, capable of powering a radio , 5 lamps, and a television.
One of the most dangerous phenomena that this policy can correct: spider webs with its share of accidents and fatal fires in peri-urban areas. This will undoubtedly improve the conditions for studies, access to information and information technologies in rural areas.
Public lighting and its salt bill
In August 2015, 7042 solar street lamps were installed to reduce the loads of public lighting. At the same time, unpaid invoices for street lighting in the commune of Lomé alone amounted to CFAF 19 billion.
Other private initiatives
The commercialization of energy has been liberalized in Togo. Private actors are investing heavily in promoting solar energy. Although this energy is less expensive, the inadequate capital of these private initiatives adds to the cost of production and is more expensive for consumers. Among other initiatives, PES-Togo, The Green Case that promotes solar energy in rural areas.
Petroleum products, pollution and solar cars
Togo has one of the largest deep-water ports in West Africa. This facilitates the acquisition of used cars, heavy consumers and highly polluters. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the car fleet will experience a 300% boom by 2035, and a sustainable low-emission transport system must be considered to avoid air pollution.
More than 75% of imports of petroleum products are destined for transport. Long before the signing of the Paris agreement, Togolese industrialists took the initiative to introduce solar cars. Since 2016, 100% solar electric cars have been installed in Togo at a rate of CFAF 3.2 million (4,800 euros) for a 4-wheel cart and 1,800,000 CFA (2,700 euros) for a tricycle.
A solar cart mounted in Lomé
It is up to the State to promote these initiatives and several means are possible to do so. For example, Chinese second-hand cars and motorcycles could be overtaxed, in return for exempting the renewable energy industry. Of course, the government alone can not drive a strong energy transition. In the light of the international climate protection agreements to which the country is a party, and in the name of the necessary energy independence, the government would consider supporting all initiatives focused on renewable energy.
You can also like our page on www.Facebook.com/Togolese News in Nigeria
Comments
Post a Comment