East African Business Week (Kampala)
Bobi Odiko
23 August 2009
opinion
In a unique innovation of all times, the region is soon set to turn to green telecommunications. Last week, leading Kenyan mobile telephony network, Safaricom Ltd launched the green phone or "Simu ya solar", ahead of its crucial Annual General Meeting in Nairobi. This was a major boost on the one side for the region currently going through one of the gravest periods as the energy crisis escalates.
The broadcast of the new innovation was immediately over-shadowed by an announcement of a power rationing programme in Kenya by the electricity company.
The launch thus came at a time when there is little to celebrate about unless sales of the novelty climb, increasing demand for the new cellular to counter the tumble of power kilowatts.
The power-cut programme somehow caught many on the wrong-footing and despite digression, it perhaps nipped Safaricom's celebrations, never mind that no power is essentially needed to run the innovative gadgets.
All in all, the operator needs to be given a nod for the freshness in the successful unveiling of the globe's first solar charged phone. In line with its green credentials, Safaricom House, the firm's head office, according to media reports, is fitted with motion-sensitive light bulbs to minimize the use of electricity within the office environment. Other green initiatives within Safaricom include digital communication and paperless offices; use of reusable water bottles (dubbed Kikombe Dawama) instead of plastic throw-away tumblers; resource recycling and reuse; and a planned comprehensive Environment Management System.But away from the inauguration if you were to review the media outlets over the last few weeks, one notices an avalanche of advertorials on tenders and such proffers related to power issues. In some interesting news, the installation of the Karuma hydroelectric power in Uganda, thanks to public-private sector partnerships is set to herald an era of abundant power for the country which has had biting shortages for a number of years. But as the good news trickled in, the balance was again tilted. A snag was reported in yet another project in Kagera, a cross-border hydroelectric project involving Uganda and Tanzania until ltaxation issues are concluded.
Meanwhile, a number of companies in Kenya have reportedly commenced power generation thus joining a club of private sectors players interested and willing to generate energy from waste.
According to East African Business Council (EABC), generally, the private sector should and can play a fundamental part in improving the energy situation in the region. There is evidence over the same. Godwin Bonge, the Communications Officer of the apex business body is however pessimistic that the huge capital requirements make investment in the sector unattractive and the prevailing circumstances call for governments to change their policies.
It is a loaded statement, yet one that is objective and that I agree with in totality. The time is ripe for the region to incentivize the private sector in a number of ways including inter alia extending tax holidays for players who invest in the sector.
If there is will on the part of the companies, then there must be a way out on the part of government. If the private sector is willing to engage and see how best to remedy the situation, it is only natural that they receive all the support and a helping hand from the authorities. The region's leaders need to act and quickly so.
On top of that, we must collectively implement the various resolutions that arise out of the annual EAC Energy conferences and shun any barriers that come in the way. Devoid of this action, our days are numbered as the region could soon fall into darkness and our economies take a serious beating, limp and dip.We must guard against the scarce resource and make all attempts to encourage "investment in energy without borders".
The writer comments on socio-economic issues and is based in Arusha.
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