It’s an aging, common enemy across the continent of Africa, more prevalent in rural areas than urban, but its presence is felt everywhere. It’s the problem of power deficiency. More than one fifth (22%) of firms in Sub Saharan Africa have admitted that ‘access to power’ is their biggest obstacle. Yet, with this situation having been existent for some time now, it’s still a bit mind boggling that facts such as this one: the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas (80,000 seating capacity) uses more power than the whole country of Liberia (4.19 million people).
Unfortunately, the Dallas Cowboys didn’t make it to this year’s Superbowl XLVIII, and quite frankly Liberia are all the way in Western Africa and probably aren’t very familiar with the sport that dominates USA. However, there’s a huge marginal difference in the use of electricity between the two. Only about 1 percent of urban residents, and almost no rural residents, has access to electricity in Liberia. The West-African country is a paradigm of many others in the continent of Africa. On the other hand, the developed world’s efficient power supply can sometimes be taken for granted, especially when it is never compared to worse situations across the globe such as Liberia’s.
Return of the Power Crisis?
The 2008 power crisis in South Africa is an example of the impact of unreliable power supply in the continent, especially from one of Africa’s richest countries. South Africa power crises in 2008 heavily affected the mining industry as well as the country’s reputation of being regarded as an attractive investment destination. Unfortunately, reports show that South Africa’s backbone industry (the mining sector) is on the verge of suffering again, due to a lack of power.
USP&E Africa: Not Far from Africa’s Power Problem
Despite the gloom that hovers over the economic growth of South Africa, Liberia and several other countries in Africa, US Power and Environment (USP&E) are willing to join forces with others in Africa that are committed to the power cause of the continent. USP&E Global is a United States company that was founded in 2002 by CEO and President Will Gruver and has grown to be a trusted supplier of power station EPC and O&M services. Now having strategic offices in Johannesburg, South Africa, USP&E Africa is establishing more as a worldwide provider of power generation solutions. USP&E Africa has experience in the continent of Africa having been in operation in Sierra Leone (neighbors of Liberia) for over three years. USP&E Africa built a 13 MW power plant for the London Mining Company (UK) in 2010 in the revamp of the Marampa iron ore mine continues to carry out O&M services till today.
It will take strong partnering and effort from different entities, but USP&E are dedicated to Powering Business and Empowering People of Africa, one step at a time.
For more information on USP&E, click here or go to: www.uspeglobal.com.
- Bankable feasibility studies for as little as R 500, 000.00
- EPC and O&M services for HFO, Gas Turbine, and Hybrid solar and waste heat recovery solutions
- Surplus, new, and reconditioned power station assets in stock and ready to ship
- Full financing, leasing, or IPP options
USP&E Africa (South Africa address)
JOHANNESBURG
Willow Wood Office Park
Cnr 3rd Ave & Cedar Road
Broadacres, Gauteng 2021
Tel: (011) 064 5600
Mob: (072) 955 2560