Central Africa's geographic location has endowed it with a diversity of eco systems which are undeniable assets for its development (climate, soil, ve getation, hydraulic regimes, etc.). It has the second largest rainforest after the Amazonia. This ecosystem is home to more than 60% of the continent's biological diversity and several taxonomical groups rank it first among Afri can regions due to its wealth in species. Forest production in most countries of the sub region is the second foreign exchange and export revenue ear
ner.
The Economies of Central Africa - 2013
The sub region has considerable potential to develop renewable energies in
every sector.
Its hydroelectric potential is huge and estimated at 57.7% as compared with Africa as a whole (PEAC, 2010). 60% of the continent's hydroelectric po tential is found in Central Africa. Some countries like Cameroon and DRC intend to reduce their energy deficit by building more hydroelectric dams.
Given this huge hydroelectric potential, it is urgent to diversity energy sources and reduce fossil energy investment levels.
Also, the biomass in large forest areas is another potential energy source, but public authorities do not subsidise biomass energy. In DRC for example, with a territory of over 2 million km2, "green business" opportunities abound. According to the World Bank (2012), close to one hundred and se venty projects on energy efficiency, renewable energy and agro fuels were identified there, twenty-three concern agricultural waste valorisation, twenty-seven are on forest industries, thirty one on "clean" charcoal pro duction and sixty eight projects for the production ofjatropha-based agro fuels. They would enable a 697 million ton CO2 reduction. For a spot price of about 13.50 Euros per ton, the country could raise about 9.4 billion Euros in the carbon market.
However, there isn't yet a solution to the bio fuels issue . In Europe, draft guidelines presented in October 2012 limited the project to incorporate agro fuels in petrol and gasoline to 5%, triggering the anger of the sector's in dustrialists. So, after having encouraged agro fuel development, the Euro pean Union decided to reduce it. Also, if the target of 10% of energy from renewable sources by 2020 in the transport sector remains in force, it will have to be achieved in other ways, like hybrid cars and second generation bio fuels. Indeed, energy plantations for the production of first generation bio fuels (ioethanol from sugarcane, wheat, maize, etc) have been accused of monopolizing land and of being harmful to the environment.
Tidal energy is another, yet-to-be-exploited potential. It has the advantage ofbeing totally predictable, although it is intermittent. Likewise, almost all Central African countries enjoy enough sunlight, conducive for solar energy development.
Chad, Northern Cameroon and CAR have more wind and solar energy po tential. It would be important to invest in this sector to increase energy trans mission for households and businesses.
technological leap in the key sectors: energy, agriculture and industry. Cen tral Africa has a considerable capacity to diversify its economy through multiple potential energy sources. An energy mix in turn also depends on the level of technological innovation. For green technologies to be introdu ced in Central Africa, some conditions need to be met, among which, in creased technology transfer between developed or emerging partners and African countries (UNO, 2012, Report on Economic Development in Africa). This implies reducing investment in fossil fuels and creating in centives to companies for the production and consumption of renewable energies, increased domestic absorption capacity and a stronger national base for science and technology.
If investments in carbon intensive energy sources are substituted with investments in clean energy, the penetration rate of rene wable energies in electricity generation would practically triple (from 16 to 45%
by 2050). However, the issuer of transfer
of technologies is yet to be addressed; the potential or real conflicts between Europe and China on the photovoltaic industry show the growing concern of some countries about the move towards a green economy. In September and December 2012, the European Commission announced the launching of two enquiries on the photovoltaic industry in China. The first one is an
"antidumping procedure regarding the importation of photovoltaic crystal line silicium modules and their key components originating from the Peo ple's Republic of China". The second one concerns public subventions to Chinese manufacturers of these types of materials (Le Monde, 2013).
The structural transformation of the economies of Central Africa requires technological leaps in the key sectors of energy, agricul ture and industry.
The Economies of Central Africa - 2013
It follows from the above that Central Africa, with its huge natural resource potential, has major assets to develop a green economy. Its forests, its hydro graphic network, its mineral resources and its young population are a re serve which should be used in various programmes financed by the Inter national Community within the framework of the Bali Action Plan and the Cancun Green Fund. However, the enthusiasm of countries of the sub region may be drastically curbed by the yet to be addressed technology transfer issues.
Section 2 - Challenges and Perspectives of a Green Economy