Emerging considerations of rural electrification infrastructure development in Africa

Abstract

Rural electrification infrastructure in Africa has remained under-developed and under-utilized even though rural economies have the potential to be the theatre of economic development of the continent. Most of the continent's abundant energy and mineral resources are located in their naturally occurring states in the rural areas. Despite Africa's huge energy resources, the electrification rate in the continent has remained low at forty-three per cent and is even much worse in the rural communities at eight and a half per cent. This paper examines the reasons for this trend from the Technical, Economic, Commercial, Operational and Political emerging considerations involved in rural electrification infrastructure development in Africa and also proffers solutions to them.