The World Bank has warned that consumers could pay triple the
current cost of electricity as a result of failure to integrate climate
change into the planning and design of hydro-power infrastructure.
In
a new report that analyses impacts of weather on energy and water
infrastructure across Africa, the bank also says power generating
companies stand to lose revenues of between five and 60 per cent as a
result.
“Climate change requires new approaches that
will help make infrastructure investments in Africa more resilient to
the uncertain climate of the future. No action is not an option,” Mr
Jamal Saghir, World Bank senior regional adviser for Africa, said.
The
report is based on a study carried out across four power pools
(regional grids) on the continent to evaluate economic impacts of an
uncertain climate on hydro-power and irrigation expansion plans.
WATER LEVELS
It
comes after the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released a report
early this month showing that there was increased production of
electricity by fuel-driven generators in January and February due to a
reduction in water levels at the dams due to a prolonged dry spell.
According
to the bureau, thermal generators produced 93.78 and 109.19 million
units in December and January, respectively. They accounted for 121.11
million units produced in February.
“The dam level at
our main reservoir has dropped meaning our current energy storage is
only 22.87 per cent of the full dam capacity. We, therefore, need lots
of inflow into the dam to sustain the kind of dispatch from hydro but we
have not reduced the hydro utilisation,” the Energy Regulatory
Commission said in a statement sent to the Nation.
Hydro
generation has been on a decline for three consecutive months since
November, when it was at a high of 307.25 million units, accounting for
229.50 million units in February, according to the KNBS data.
Generation
from geothermal resources also declined between January and February,
from 388.40 million units to 352.12 million units.
The World Bank recommends the establishment of a climate resilience preparation facility to support plans for infrastructure investments and training programmes for professionals involved in planning and design.
The World Bank recommends the establishment of a climate resilience preparation facility to support plans for infrastructure investments and training programmes for professionals involved in planning and design.
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