Energy
Mixed reactions over AfDB’s ban of coal fired power production
January 06, 2021 / Brown Mdalla
Players in Malawi’s mining sector have expressed mixed reactions over African Development Bank’s (AfDB) stand against coal fired power generation.
AfDB President Akinwunmi Adesina this week called for a stop in the use of coal power across the continent and recommended a switch to renewable energy sources.
Speaking during United Nations (UN) climate talks on Monday during the Climate Change Summit (CCS) in Manhattan, India, Adesina called for a halt in operations of coal fired power plants and said AfDB will support the building of the largest solar zone in the world in the Arid Sahel belt.
He said renewable energy is sustainable and has the potential to benefit future generations.
He said in 2020 AfDB rolled out a US$500 million green baseload scheme which will assist African countries to shift from coal and fossil fuel to renewable energy.
But Minerals, Geology, Environment and Corporate Affairs Consultant Grain Malunga said the development would not affect the local coal mining industry, which is dominated by the private investors.
“AfDB’s wish to stop the use of coal as energy source will not have any impact to Malawi considering that local coal mines are not government owned, but are owned by private investors whose incomes do not go into government purse,” said Malunga.
While admitting that the coal industry is among the main atmospheric pollutants, MD for Rukuru Coal Mine Bruno kloser said while considering an outright shift to renewable sources, Malawi will still need coal in its energy mix in the short to medium term to power industries.
“Malawi just like many developing countries will still need coal for some time, while investing in alternative forms of energy like solar and wind,” said Kloser.
Ministry of Mining spokesperson Sangwani Phri said AfDB’s ban on the use of coal as energy source which was imposed in 2013 to fight global warming is not bearing fruits since the Bank is failing to assist poor countries to successfully develop to middle income status through adequate investment in renewable sources of power such as wind and solar.
He, therefore, said it could be helpful if the Bank had adequately invested in the alternative sources before the ban was affected.
“There are roughly 1.6 million people in developing countries and about 7 million in Africa with the remaining 500 million in South Asia who are keenly looking for cheaper energy sources. Local restrictions on blocking companies from mining coal will be a big blow to them, as well as their economies,” said Phiri.
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Rehabilitation:
The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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Remediation:
The cleanup of the contaminated area to safe levels by removing or isolating contaminants. At mine sites, remediation often consists of isolating contaminated material in pre-existing tailings storage facilities, capping tailings and waste rock stockpiles with clean topsoil, and collecting and treating any contaminated mine water if necessary.
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