Africa scrambles for new energy as blackouts bite

African governments are scrambling for new sources of energy to stave off more costly blackouts as strained power supplies plunge swathes of the continent into darkness, stifling much-needed development.

Higher than expected economic growth and a lack of past investment have left many countries, mostly oil importers, in a race against time to avert widespread and damaging outages.
With crude oil prices stubbornly high, some governments are now hoping a massive hydro-electric project at the mouth of the mighty River Congo will provide power in the future.

But the project has been on the drawing board for decades, while the continent’s power crisis deepens.

The severe power shortages and rolling blackouts some countries suffer may deter investors and stifle future growth, keeping the poorest continent poor, analysts say.

Business Day