Page 4 - AfrElec Week 40 2022

AfrElec COMMENTARY AfrElec

Kenyan president urges African

states to prioritise renewable

energy over fossil fuels

KENYA William Ruto, Kenya’s newly elected president, Power (LTWP) facility, but the world’s largest
has urged African countries to focus on develop- wind park is actually the 1,320-MW Hornsea
ing renewable energy sources rather than fossil 2 facility located built in the UK section of the
fuels. North Sea.
In an op-ed article published by The Guardian Meanwhile, it is not clear how Ruto deter-
(UK) on October 4, Ruto argued that renewa- mined that renewable sources were powering
bles such as wind and solar were the best options 92% of Kenya’s total generating capacity. This
for providing Africans with more power. This is figure is at odds with data from sources such
because African states simply cannot afford to as the US International Trade Administration
ignore the long-term consequences of increased (ITA), which show that renewables account for
development and consumption of fossil fuels approximately three-quarters of the country’s
such as crude oil and natural gas, he wrote. installed generating capacity.
“Africa is the continent most affected by cli- Ruto also did not address arguments from
mate change and yet the least responsible for it,” a number of African government officials that
he remarked. fossil fuels are a faster and more cost-effective
“The climate emergency is here and now,” he remedy to the continent’s widespread energy
added. “Across Kenya, communities today are poverty. One proponent of this view is his Ugan-
suffering the consequences. Millions of Ken- dan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, who argued
yans and millions more from the Horn of Africa in an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal
are on the brink of famine due to devastating last year that African states ought to pursue solu-
drought. It is not too late to respond, but to tions that combined renewables and natural gas,
tackle this threat we must act urgently to keep the which generates less carbon dioxide than other
increase in global heating to below 1.5°C (2.7°F), fossil fuels.
help those most in need and end our addiction In any event, the Kenyan president urged Afri-
to fossil fuels.” can states to turn to renewables and phase out
Kenya has already racked up some successes fossil fuels. He noted that wind and solar power
with respect to leapfrogging past fossil fuels into solutions were becoming more cost-effective
an era where renewable resources are the most and called them a better guarantor of energy
important component of the energy mix, he said. security in light of the fallout from the conflict
Kenya is home to the world’s largest wind park, between Russia and Ukraine.
he stated, and renewables account for 92% of the Above all, Ruto stressed that renewable energy
country’s domestic generation capacity. was the best way to address the climate emer-
Ruto effectively acknowledged that Kenya was gency now confronting the entire world as a
still dependent on imports of fossil fuel-based consequence of the sustained use of fossil fuels
energy but said that 74% of its overall consump- and said his country intends to lead the way on
tion was made up by clean energy. this front.
It is worth noting that at least one of Ruto’s “This is a crossroads in history. Kenya is ready
claims on this front is either inaccurate or mis- to rise to the challenge and help build a bet-
stated. Kenya is indeed home to Africa’s largest ter world for Kenyans and all of humanity,” he
wind park, the 310-MW Lake Turkana Wind wrote.™

P4 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 40 06•October•2022