Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Zambian President Edgar Lungu has blamed global warming for his country’s worsening economic problems.
According to Bloomberg;
Zambian President Edgar Lungu said global warming was partly to blame for the “unprecedented” power crisis robbing the economy of jobs and restraining productivity.
The energy shortages in the southern African nation are linked to unpredictable rainfall patterns caused by climate change, Lungu told the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Hydro-electric generation, which accounts for more than 90 percent of the country’s energy mix, has been curbed because of a drought, putting pressure on the key mining industry to reduce its power usage.
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I guess this is a reminder that even hydroelectricity, the only economically viable renewable, has its limitations. However there is hope – if Mr Lungu approaches the Chinese or Japanese for help, they might include Zambia in their climate finance coal infrastructure development programmes.
The real problem is that power generation in Zambia comes from just 2 power plants . The Kariba power station was built in colonial times in 1956 and Kafue Gorge power station in 1970. Since then despite the rise in population and electricity consumption the government has done nothing to develop alternate sources, indeed the signed agreements to sell cut price electricity to Mozambique and South Africa. Of the remaining capacity over 70% goes to the copper mines which leaves precious little for domestic consumers.
Worse the Kariba dam is deteriorating due to a complete lack of maintenance and its entirely likely that the dam sluice gates will have to be opened to prevent a collapse.
The state electricity company had plans to meet this shortfall with a new coal fired station but funding for this has been held back by the government which has been affected by the Green Madness and decided that solar power was the answer but of course they cant afford it. The transport infrastructure is so run down that it is essentially impossible to move coal from the countries collieries to market. As a result it is just being stockpiled forcing domestic consumers ship coal in to the country from Zimbabwe while would be buyers from China and India are forced to go elsewhere.
The drought is a convenient excuse for multiple government failures.
This is not new for this African leader. He has been on the climate money gravy train for some time now. It was the Pope that was slow to catch the wave.
Well, yes, they’ve been hurt by weather conditions, if that counts as climate change. They’ve been held back more by the climate change (aka global warming) movement and the convenient excuse for forcing “renewable” and its hardships, instead of bringing coal powered development and affluence to make his country productive in the world market.
My gut says Asia is willing to step up and finance what Zambia needs to join the modern world.
That would be right, except for playing the Clinton Foundation as a side game.
Hmmm, it seems like nothing a nice coal fired power plant or two wouldn’t help, and tra la, China to the rescue.
These BRICs gotta stick together and also help out the more downtrodden among them.
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Dang, shoulda read the comments first. Point already made, in spades.
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…but your style is more elegant.
Gee, I wonder what the Obama trip to Africa taught leaders there?
Zambia?
Sheesh the whole CAGW meme will vanish if we could impose a simple clause; Pay all “researchers” and “victims” in Zimbabwe dollars.
Everyone will be satisfied, the taxpayer costs will be severely curtailed and the concerned ones will received cheques with totals that vindicate their dedication.
Until they attempt to cash them.
Is this the same Zambian president who sent me an email saying that if I send him $2,000 today, he will send me $1,000,000 next month? The con seems similar.
No that was his relative in Nigeria
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment … UN battle looms over finance as nations submit climate plans”
“”Divisions over money between rich and poor countries re-emerged as nations submitted their plans for tackling climate change to the UN.
India, the last big emitter to publish its contribution, said it would need $2.5 trillion to meet its targets.
The Philippines said that without adequate climate compensation, their cuts in emissions wouldn’t happen.”
The only reason these developing nations have joined the crazy climate gang is because of the scent of money. India alone is looking for $2.5 trillion. The dumbasses running Europe and the USA thought they could exert control over the third world with the climate scam but now it is coming back to bite them in the the arse.
Even Obarmy is not going to give away half the USA’s GDP to the clamouring masses and the only thing the masses want is the loot. He can keep his ruddy wind turbines and solar panels because China and Japan will sell them coal power stations which they will pay for with the climate loot from the West, The loons have opened a huge can of worms and they are not going to be able to stuff them back in in Paris. Popcorn all round methinks.
The klepocrats are the most likely cause of their economy going belly up.
Reblogged this on Climatism and commented:
Thank god for the UN ‘green climate fund’. Now Zambia can have financial security – compensation for evil mankind creating erratic rainfall patterns.
If he is blaming climate change for poverty he should power his nation by wind and solar, then he will know real poverty. BTW, if solar won’t work in Africa it won’t work anywhere.