Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Energy of any form is of paramount importance in the development process of communities,
regions and nations. It is a domestic necessity but also a factor of production whose cost
directly affects prices of other goods and services, and the competitiveness of enterprises.
Energy also plays a critical role in enabling social improvement and development: economies
that are unable to provide access to modem energy for everyone at reasonable costs are left
behind in a globalised world.
Industrialised countries have proved that efficient energy production and distribution is a key
factor for the generation of wealth. They have built there success on energy sources that are
easily accessible and convertible into motion, heat or electricity. However, most of these
sources are limited and not renewable in the literal meaning of the word. Huge infrastructure
projects and trillion dollar investments are done in energy sources like fossil fuels that will in
a not too distant future be exhausted. Additionally, these fuels lead to climate change with
unpredictable consequences. Renewable energy on the other hand, has not been given enough
political and financial attention that would make it competitive and provide a real alternative.
Developing countries, and the African continent as a whole, have tried to imitate the
economies of the first world when it comes to energy sourcing. They are very likely to fall
into the same traps: large investments into projects that benefit a small number of people,
over capacities on the supply side, energy generation that is closely connected to
environmental pollution and last but not least: dependency on energy reserves that are located
in politically unstable regions of the world.
It is recommended that Africa as a continent should work on energy sourcing concepts that
• reduce poverty and enable development,
• give its scattered population access to modern energy at reasonable cost,
• rely on socially and environmentally sustainable energy generation,
• integrate regions to avoid conflicts,
• lead to independency from external energy supply and
• make the continent a competitive actor in the global market place.
In the case of 3 African countries namely Algeria, Ghana and South Africa it is illustrated that
there is an opportunity for Africa to do things differently and to learn from the mistakes in the
history of modem energy. The focus on existing opportunities, the interest to learn from
others and the readiness to work together with partners enable these nations to really fuel
development and achieve above average social and economical growth. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Energie in alle vorme is van uiterste belang in die ontwikkeiingsproses van gemeenskappe,
streke en nasies. Dit is beide 'n plaaslike vereiste, maar ook 'n produksiefaktor, waarvan die
koste 'n direkte invloed het op pryse van ander goedere en dienste en die mededingendheid
van ondernemings. Ekonomië wat nie die vermoe het om toegang na moderne energie vir
almal teen redelike koste te gee nie, word agtergelaat in 'n geglobaliseerde wereld.
Geindustrialiseerde lande het bewys dat effektiewe energieproduksie en -verspreiding 'n
sleutelfaktor is vir welvaartskepping. Hulle sukses is gebou op energiebronne wat maklik,
toeganklik en omskakelbaar is in beweging, hitte of elektrisiteit. Meeste van hierdie bronne is
egter beperk en nie hernubaar nie.
Enorme infrakstuktuurprojekte van biljoene dollar word investeer in energiebronne soos
fossielbrandstof wat in die nie-soverre-toekoms uitgeput sal wees. Die gebruik van hierdie
tipe brandstof lei tot klimaatsveranderinge met onvoorspelbare gevolge. Hernubare energie
het egter nog nie genoegsame politieke en finansiele steun gekry wat dit 'n mededingende
werklike alternatief maak nie. Ontwikkelende lande en Afrika as geheel, probeer eerste
wereldse ekonomie navolg ten opsigte van energie verkryging. Die kanse is goed dat hulle in
die volgende slaggate sal val: Groot investering wat min mense bevoordeel; oorvoorsiening
ten opsigte van lewering; energie-opwekking wat omgewingsbesoedeling aan die hand werk;
afhanklikheid van energie-reserwes wat in politiese onstabiele streke van die wereld gelee is.
Dit word aanbeveel dat die Afrika-kontinent werk na energiebron konsepte wat:
• Verminderde armoede aan die hand werk en ontwikkeling bevorder
• 'n Verspreide bevolking toegang gee tot moderne energie teen billike pryse
• Vertrou op sosiaal en omgewings volhoubare energie opwekking
• Streke integreer ten einde konflik te vermy
• Afhanklikheid van eksterne energie bronne vermy
• Die kontinent 'n mededingende speler in die wereldmark, maak.
In die gevalle van drie Afrika lande naamlik, Algerie, Ghana en Suid-Afrika, is dit geillustreer
dat daar is 'n geleentheid vir Afrika om nie die foute van die verlede te herhaal nie. Die fokus
op bestaande geleenthede, die belangstelling om te leer van andere en die bereidwilligheid om
saam met vernote te werk, skep die geIeentheid vir hierdie lande om ontwikkeling te dryf en
om bo-gemiddelde ekonomiese en sosiale groei aan te teken.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50512 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Stauss, Wolfgang |
| Contributors | Roux, Andre, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 49 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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