Nov. 9 — With 775 million people in the world without electricity, the need for much more American liquefied natural gas is glaring.
But the aftermath of the pandemic, Russia’s attempted takeover of Ukraine and the fast-growing but still incomplete US LNG production and transoceanic transport network saw the number of powerless people in sub-Saharan Africa rise by 20 million last year.
Odessa oilman Kirk Edwards and Waco economist Ray Perryman say there’s no easy answer, but the need is so strong that the energy industry is moving inexorably to meet it.
“The math is simple,” Edwards said. “The world that does not have easy access to energy is growing faster than the areas that do.
“The question should be how we can get energy to those around the world who still live in abject poverty and all the problems that arise from that situation. The United States can and will help by continuing to build a surplus of natural gas that can and is shipped via LNG carriers to all parts of the world.
“The emphasis should be on getting that natural gas to the parts of the world that don’t have access now and introducing them to its benefits,” Edwards said. “Just think of having a light bulb, having something to heat and cook your food, and having something to cool your food and provide the necessary safety and health benefits.
“The topics are endless for what a stable energy supply has done and will continue to do for this world.”
The Paris-based International Energy Agency says the number of people without power is 15.3 percent in Tanzania, 14.4 in Nigeria, 14.2 in Sierra Leone, 13.1 in Burkina Faso, 10.8 in Central African Democracy, 9.8 in Malawi and Liberia, 6.5 in Burundi. , 6.4 in Chad and 5.1 in South Sudan with the total increased by 20 million in 2022.
Perryman said the increase “reverses a decade of progress and brings the total back to near its peak.
“The main contributing factor is the pandemic and its effect with the Russian invasion of Ukraine causing further problems,” Perryman said. “The number is huge. it represents more than twice the number of people in the US and 9.6 percent, nearly one in 10, of the world’s population.
“Prior to the pandemic, utilities were investing in grid expansion, and home solar upgrades and installations helped improve access. However, as the pandemic hit supply chains and fuel prices rose, progress stalled as utilities in sub-Saharan Europe have prioritized price maintenance Customers are downsizing in the face of increased investment in new infrastructure, slowing grid improvements In addition, solar systems have become more expensive.
“The inevitable result has been an increase in the number of people who do not have reliable access to electricity.”
Perryman said most electrical generation in the region uses fossil fuels.
“While home solar systems are part of the solution, access to reliable and affordable energy is essential to the economic development of emerging countries,” he said. “Economic growth in turn is essential to reduce the extreme poverty that many people face.
“At the same time, progress towards climate goals is needed. The result is the difficult challenge of how to increase access to electricity while avoiding worsening emissions. Some existing and emerging renewable energy and storage technologies can potentially help, but not scale needed.”
Perryman said natural gas has much lower emissions than many other options, and LNG provided by the US energy industry will be part of the solution.
“Access to LNG naturally requires significant investment in regasification capabilities in Africa and other emerging regions, but it is quickly getting to a point where the economics work,” he said. “The growth of the LNG market is helping countries around the world and will be an important part of the global energy future.”