WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

1.2.5 São Tomé and Príncipe
Lara Esser and Kai Whiting, International Center on
Small Hydro Power
Key facts
Population 183,176 1
Area 960 km 2
Climate
Topography
Rain
Pattern
Tropical, hot and humid, with one
rainy season (October to May)
Island, volcanic, mountainous
Annual rainfall is 5,000 mm in the
southwest and 1,000 mm in the north.
Electricity overview
The fact that 40 per cent of the population lack access
to electricity has been identified by the São Toméan
Government and international donors as a central
constraint to the island nation’s development. 2
Hydropower
Diesel
8.37%
91.63%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in São Tomé and
Príncipe
Source: Ministry of Planning and Finance 3
The country’s generation and transmission systems
need considerable investment for maintenance and
capacity expansion. 2 There is a high degree of reliance
on traditional biomass fuels for basic energy needs.
An estimated 30 GWh/year are available from
biomass utilization. Sustainable use of forestry
resources is therefore of paramount concern.
Daily blackouts on the islands of São Tomé and
Príncipe have driven large electricity customers offgrid
and towards the alternative of diesel generators.
Furthermore, the national utility is running at high
technical and financial losses. According to the
estimates of World Bank, about 70 per cent of the grid
needs urgent maintenance. Governance and
management account for heavy financial losses of the
utility; high generation costs, low efficiency and,
notably, the dependence on oil imports are also
important factors for the renewable energy sector
development. 2
Of the total installed generation capacity of 16 MW
about 2 MW is a hydropower plant, while the
remainder are conventional thermal turbines (figure
1). The country and its energy sector are dependent
on oil imports from Angola (approximately 650 barrels
of oil per day), and imposes a heavy burden for its
balance of payments. In the future, the demand for
electricity will increase, for example the harbour being
constructed in São Tomé alone will need about 21
MW of installed capacity.
Empresa de Água e Electricidade (EMAE) manages
water and electricity supply. A European Union Energy
Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility project intends
to provide capacity development in technological
renewable energy solutions that are available on the
islands through the provision of training in solar
photovoltaic, wind energy, and micro hydropower. 2
The country’s total installed electricity capacity in
2007 was 15.6 MW (hydro: 58 per cent, petroleum
products: 42 per cent). 4 Electricity is provided by
EMAE, a 100-per cent vertically-integrated company,
which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the
Environment, Infrastructure and Natural Resources.
This Ministry is also responsible for the development
of the energy sector, including capacity building.
Empresa Nacional de Combustíveis e Oleos (ENCO) is
responsible for the wholesale of oil and petroleum
products in the country. 4
Autoridade Geral de Regulação (AGER), under the
Ministry of Telecommunications, developed
capabilities in the power business. AGER prepared the
Bill of Law to define rights and obligations of
concessionaries and licensees in the generation,
transmission, distribution and marketing of energy. 4
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
SHP installed capacity
SHP potential
6 MW
30 MW
0 10 20 30 40
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in São Tomé
and Príncipe
Source: International Journal on Hydropower and
Dams 5
It was announced in 2008 that the Portuguese
company Soares da Costa planned to finance, build,
own and operate 12 small hydropower plants with a
total capacity of 30 MW. Under the contract, the
company will also operate existing small hydropower
plants in the country. Construction of the first new
plant, Roca Bombaim (4 MW) started in early 2008. All
output of the plants will be sold to the State company
EMEA. 5 According to the Clean Energy Portal-Reegle, a
privately owned micro-hydropower system already
exists on the Augustino Neto plantation. 4
The Government has announced that it was very keen
to develop hydropower capacities to reduce
dependence on thermal power production. No
governmental agency is currently involved in the
promotion of, or research on the use of sustainable
energy in the country. 4
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