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HEDON newsletter (02/08/2004)
In this issue:
[top] [end]IntroductionDear Readers,We welcome you to this issue of the HEDON Newsletter. This month's feature article provides some thoughts on pre-requisites to Public-Private Partnerships in the energy sector in Africa, also available on Public Private Partnerships. In our first "What are HEDON members up to?", we browse through what Graham Knight is doing in Kibera, Kenya and else where in the developing world. As always, we kindly ask you to browse and contribute to our "Knowledge Base" and to continuously give us feedback and stuff for fresh articles. We also welcome our new members for the last month and encourage both old and new members to keep updating their userpages. Remember, HEDON is a voluntary organisation and so you the members, make HEDON. We hope you will find the information below interesting and useful. Please, kindly send your articles, comments, events, issues etc to our hedon Associate on email: Maggie@... Please, don't forget to browse our website www.hedon.info as well as our sister website the Breathe Easy Network on http://india.shellfoundation.net. Please feel free to forward this email to others that may be interested. Please feel free to forward this email to others that may be interested. [top] [end]Feature of the month: Public-Private Partnerships in the African Energy Sector: Some thoughts by Maggie MatingaSee Public Private Partnerships Author User:MargaretMatinga [top] [end]Public-Private Partnerships in the African Energy Sector: Some thoughtsThe advent of power sector reforms has sparked much debate on the involvement of the private sector in the provision of energy services. Whilst a lot of African countries have shied away from privatising their utilities and investors have avoided purely private ventures in energy services provision, an option that is slowly catching up is that of Public Private Partnerships (PPP). PPPs as the name implies generally refer to partnerships between the state and private investors, for the provision of goods and services traditionally provided by public entities. These include telecommunication services, energy services and water and sanitation delivery among others.PPPs are especially seen as advantageous in African countries due to a number of reasons which include; overstretched resources such as finances and technical capacity, decreasing donor support, unstable or unfavourable micro-economic and political environments that have made purely private ventures a high risk and unattractive legal and regulatory frameworks governing public infrastructure and services sectors and other relevant sectors (e.g the finance sector). Furthermore, in the energy sector, the commercialisation of energy services is a relatively new concept and so most countries do not have a track record that can give investors confidence and hence PPPs allow for the sharing of risks between public and private entities. PPPs therefore seem to have a potential in increasing the much needed investment in the energy sector. Whilst the concept of PPPs has some potential for increasing investments in the energy sector at a time when most African government are experiencing problems in mobilising adequate financing for the required investments, a number of barriers exist. One such barrier has been that due to the efficiency concerns of private entities, analysts have raised concerns over increased job losses, an issue that has serious political connotations for most governments. This is especially crucial at a time when most Southern African countries are reeling under the effects of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) which have been blame for increased joblessness in the region. Other concerns include increased corruption (through regulatory capture and other venues) due to the revenue potential of the energy sector, impact of PPPs on service quality as providers strive to keep costs down, impact of private participation on service costs and the poor track record of African governments' respect of rule of law. The arguments against PPPs as well as purely private ventures are however also often true for public ventures. In fact, poor services delivery and government interference have been some of the arguments that sparked the debate and (slow) growth of private investment in the energy sector in Africa and elsewhere. A more important question however may be "How can the success rate of PPPs in energy services provision in Africa be increased?" In this case, success of PPPs would include improve services delivery, inclusive services delivery (i.e providing services to all including the poor, especially the rural poor who are often sidelined) and keeping costs of energy services at affordable levels, just to name a few. In order to achieve this, a number of pre-conditions need to exist. One major condition crucial for the success of PPPs in the energy sector in Africa is political will. This then should result in governments clearly defining their own objectives, roles and responsibilities in promoting PPPs as well as defining the desirable roles and responsibilities of potential private partners. The legal and regulatory framework governing the energy sector as well as the investment climate in African countries should create favourable market conditions and provide adequate incentives for investors through sensible and fair rewards. Policy-makers should however be careful in creating these incentives and must provide for disincentives for "fly-by-night" investors and should ensure fair burden apportioning so that governments do not attract investors at a high cost with respect to the governments' development goals. Another issue is that of the processes regarding partner selection and concessions. Legal instruments must be available, that provide for fair and transparent partner selection processes as well as fair and transparent dispute resolution. With these mechanisms an their support infrastructure in place, governments should set out to set new and impressive track records in all service sectors to make them attractive to potential partners. Continuous communication and learning among stakeholders should also be encouraged to ensure that the African energy sector is competitive and attractive in an increasingly competitive global environment. In addition to legal and regulatory frameworks, there is need for the development of good infrastructure and functioning public services that can provide balanced and meaningful partnership to private entities. [top] [end]What are HEDON members up to?In a number of countries in Africa, people are benefiting fromn the work of BioDesign, a non-profit organisation to which Graham Knight, a HEDON member, belongs. Using a technique that enables the assembly of small PV panels, BioDesign is helping provide affordable power for small devices such as radios and torches in some African countries (See www.hedon.info/goto.php/User:GrahamKnight ). BioDesign projects are ongoing in countries such as Mongolia, Gambia, Solomon Islands, Madagascar, Malawi, Liberia, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania and Peru among others. In addition to providing affordable power for small devices, BioDesign is training locals in areas such as the Kibera Slums of Nairobi, Kenya to make DIY Solar panels and start their own businesses. Kibera is a slum area with a population of 1 million, high poverty and unemployment levels. For more details on DIY solar and BioDesign, visit www.biodesign.org.uk[top] [end]Latest news and announcementsContains 11 new documents. Showing first 10. Visit http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/news.htm for the full list.
Research and implementation of stoves More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/394/news.htm
A team of Lao experts are training small companies to become village energy service specialists, to work in areas not due for electricity grid connection. This report describes the work to create a supportive framework for the growth of these companies More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/392/news.htm
Final Report on the Improved Gonzie for the Year 2003 has just been published by the Ethiopian rural energy development and promotion centre (April 2004) More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/388/news.htm
Wuppertal Institute searches worldwide for good practices in water and energy- Can you share? More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/376/news.htm
As UK's strategic partner on global issues, South Africa is eligible for funding of projects on Climate Change and Energy and Emerging Markets More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/375/news.htm
RETScreen users may soon be able to better estimate potential of carbon finance for their projects More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/374/news.htm
This policy dialogue workshop was organised by Illovo Sugar Ltd., with WIP-Munich, as part of the project Partners for Africa (www.partners4africa.org) funded by the European Commission. Presentations from the workshop are available online here. More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/356/news.htm
A workshop on "The Policy Framework for the Introduction of Ethanol-Petrol Blending and Biodiesel on the Zambian Market" was held in Lusaka, Zambia 10th - 11th May 2004 as part of the Partners for Africa project. More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/373/news.htm
The report on the results of the Zambian National Energy Policy Review Workshop, held in Lusaka between 5-6 April 2004 with support from Partners for Africa, as well as the meeting working papers are now available online. More details online at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/372/news.htm Do you have relevant household energy news? Please send your household energy news items us by return email! [top] [end]Publication libraryContains 3 new documents.
Available to download at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/141/library.htm
Available to download at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/140/library.htm
Available to download at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/139/library.htm Do you have relevant household energy publications? We are happy to include your papers and reports on our database. Please email them to us! [top] [end]LinksContains 2 new documents.
PRINCE group was started by Prof. Ajay Chandak, who is M.Tech. in mechanical engineering from I.I.T. Powai, Mumbai and working in the area of non conventional energy. He is supported by many like minded friends, technocrats, students and volunteers. PRINCE (Promoters and Researchers In Non - Conventional Energy) is a volunteer-based group dedicated to creating a better world for everyone through the use of renewable energy. We believe that protecting and enhancing the environment is possible only through using non-conventional energy sources. We are based in Dhule, Maharashtra, India and work in association with the local NGO Jankibai Trust. PRINCE's scope includes all technologies and activities that facilitate sustainable development. Given current resources available, we specialize in solar energy, bio-gas, vermicomposting, tree planting and energy conservation. Our current projects are: Designing, manufacturing and testing solar thermal devices. These include solar cookers and solar steam systems, solar vegetable dehydrators and solar water heaters for domestic and community applications. Work is focused on making these technologies affordable and accessible to people of all economic levels. Promoting solar cookers and other solar powered devices through public demonstrations, solar canteens, and street shows. Providing entrepreneurs free training in manufacturing solar devices. Promoting other renewable technologies including bio-gas, vermicomposting, micro-hydel power plants, pedal power, and other non-conventional energy sources. Extending free consultation to all social organizations for use of non-conventional energy. Educating people on energy conservation. Online link at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/529/links.htm
Research, Development and Consultancy (RDC) Unit, Kathmandu University (KU) Implementation of stove through Kathmandu University is the kind of continuation of Karnali Community Skill Training (KCST) program. In 2001, through Research, Development and Consultancy Unit in Kathmandu University disseminated the "Jumla Design Stoves" in Jumla. Two villages were selected namely "Mohri Gaun" and "Dhopa". In "Mohri Gaun" 22 stoves and in "Dhopa" 45 stoves were distributed along with Pit Latrine and Wled lights powered by Solar PV cells Online link at: http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/528/links.htm Do you have relevant household energy links? Please send details to us by return email! -- This newsletter was brought to you by the HEDON Household Energy Network. For further information please visit our website at http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/index.htm or email us with your contributions, comments and suggestions. Categories: HEDON Newsletters | |
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02 April 2007; Last edited:
02 April 2007; Version: 1 | |
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