I feel really sad without you. Is the power system in Africa really that bad?
The author is engaged in planning, design, and engineering construction work to support African power, and has been to many countries in Africa at all levels. However, answering this question is full of tears.
How to get through a day without electricity?
Generally speaking, Chinese funded enterprises and institutions have generators, so there is not a big problem. However, if there is no generator or the generator is broken, and you are in a big city that is relatively safe, there are more things to do because staying indoors without electricity can be quite hot (except for a few high-altitude countries). Choose to go out and find a place with electricity to stay.
If there is no generator or the generator is broken, and you are not in a big city or it is unsafe in the city, then you can only stay indoors. You can rub hemp, play cards, use emergency lights, or light candles. Rubbing hemp is very sensory, is there!!! And there's no electricity, we can't work, so it's natural to use the excuse of playing cards with rubbing hemp. We still enjoy this time quite a bit.
If the power outage is not long, you can take a walk with a dog nearby, chat with a black girl, and use your phone and computer. If it doesn't work, you can go to sleep, which is basically not a problem. If the power outage lasts for a long time, such as a week or more, it would be a tragedy.
I have experienced it once, in one of the poorest countries in Africa. Because water is usually cut off at this time. After the water in the tank runs out, there is no electricity or water, the temperature is unbearable, and the smell in the room is too sour and refreshing.
Without water and electricity, it's difficult to solve the problem of eating. The key to living that day is to prevent malaria, and mosquitoes are also difficult to eliminate without electricity. Imagine being in a pitch black room with a temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius, without taking a shower for a week, sweating profusely, not eating anything for a day, and a group of mosquitoes buzzing around your ears that may carry malaria virus. What kind of feelings and emotions is this?
The electricity consumption situation in some countries is simply shocking. Below, we will take each country's level of electricity development in Africa as an example and share our own experiences.
First tier: South Africa - better, similar to North African countries such as Egypt and Algeria.
These countries belong to the power system and have relatively few power outages.
Taking South Africa as an example. Johannesburg is really bustling, but when I went there, I was scammed by customs and it was very frustrating. The driver who came out was also scammed for speeding for some reason, and I heard that the security was not good, so I didn't go out much later, which is quite regrettable.
Let's talk about South Africa's electricity supply. After all, it is a developed country, and its electricity generation once accounted for two-thirds of the entire Africa. Surplus power is sent to Namibia, Botswana and other countries. The per capita electricity consumption in South Africa has remained stable between 4000kWh and 5000kWh for many years, indicating that the development of South African electricity has reached a relatively developed and saturated stage.
The power grid in South Africa is relatively strong and follows European standards, which are high-end. What I want to complain about roast that no matter how well the domestic power system and substation schemes are done, once I compare them with consulting and design companies in Europe and the United States, the gap between them is too obvious. It is reasonable to say that the domestic power level is good, but the fact is still the case, which is also my deepest feeling in South Africa and the Southern African Power Union (SAPP).
After thinking about it, on the one hand, European and American companies are indeed more advanced in standards and norms, and can easily grasp them. On the other hand, they are much more capable of deceiving concepts, which makes us lack confidence. Another important point is that there is also a significant gap in English expression habits and the presentation effect of solutions.
However, if the South African Power Company and even SAPP are managed by black people in the future, I am not optimistic. For the many black people I have come into contact with, they basically do not have the ability to independently manage or complete multiple complex projects.
Second tier: Zambia - okay, similar countries include Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, etc.
This type of country belongs to the power system, but the power supply is tight and there may be power outages.
Taking Zambia as an example. There are so many Chinese people in Zambia. Those who run restaurants and clinics make a lot of money. Of course, the richest are Chinese with mining rights. After all, the Tanzania Zambia Railway and the friendship between the people of China and Africa will forever endure.
Zambia's power supply is currently tight. In fact, due to Zambia's abundant hydropower resources, electricity was once exported to neighboring countries. However, now the load growth is severe and the power gap is also relatively large. The blue highlighted areas in the picture are all hydroelectric power stations. Speaking of which, the Victoria Falls next to the hydroelectric power station is truly magnificent, and Lake Cariba is truly beautiful.
The country's power grid is unsatisfactory, with no 330kV backbone high-voltage network covering the whole country, and the transformer capacity and line cross-section are very small, many of which are at the level of heavy load overload.
Their country still attaches great importance to the development of electricity. They have commissioned a French company to design the distribution network, and a British PB company has made a medium - to long-term power grid plan. However, it can only be said that the level of the planning scheme is still acceptable, and the specific implementation is unknown. The following picture is made by the French.
Half of the shares of Zambia Power Company have been acquired by India's Tata Power, which is not favorable for Chinese companies there. Dealing with people from India Power Company is really disgusting. The tricks used by Indians, such as giving small reports, feigning emotions, and making excuses, are ineffective once they do concrete things.
But there is still no way. They speak very well. The Chinese people's English expression ability is not the same level as theirs, and they often suffer a lot. Power outages in Zambia are bound to occur from time to time, and the capital city of Lusaka would be much better off. Countries in this category, such as Ghana, are slightly better.
Third tier: Ethiopia - Poor, similar to Angola, Madagascar and other countries.
These countries have a basic power system, but frequent power outages and poor power supply quality.
Taking Madagascar as an example. People who have watched movies but haven't been to Madagascar may have some longing, but in fact, it's not the case at all. The scenery is not so beautiful, life is not so convenient, and the security is not good. There are more robberies and so on
In terms of power supply, the coverage rate of power users is about 20%, and it is around 40% near the capital. Power outages are a frequent occurrence, and it is uncertain when they will occur. The electricity price is not low, often rising because their power plants mainly rely on hydropower and diesel, which suffer from long-term losses. The import price of oil is also relatively high, so it is not affordable for ordinary people.
The above picture is the single line diagram of the country, which is what we call the power grid wiring diagram in China. You can see that it is quite simple and has low reliability. There are also some off grid small systems that are not connected to these power grids, let alone reliability.
Basically, many substations have been in operation for over 25 years, with outdated equipment, low reliability, high losses, and frequent malfunctions. The government really wants to improve this situation, but first of all, there is no money. Secondly, the resources of the island are relatively limited, and thirdly, the electricity consumption is not very high, so it has always been difficult. In countries of this level, I think the level is similar, with Ethiopia slightly better.
