African Water Development Report 2006 - United Nations Economic ...

African Water Development Report 2006and usage of automobiles (between 20 cars per1000 people), and penetration of appliances suchas refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning, and soon. Africa is a heavy user of “traditional” (noncommercial)fuels - primarily biomass (Energyin Africa, 1999).Traditional Energy ConsumptionAlthough Africa accounts for a tiny share ofworld commercial energy consumption, it has alion’s share of the world’s biomass energy consumption(firewood, agricultural residues, animalwaste, and charcoal), calculated as a percentageof overall energy consumption. Biomass accountsfor as much as two thirds of the total Africanfinal energy consumption. According to the InternationalEnergy Agency (IEA), the biomassenergy consumption of countries of the Organizationfor Economic Co operation and Development(OECD) is about 3 per cent of final energyconsumption, estimated to be equivalent to 205million tons of oil (Mtoe) and 136 Mtoe of conventionalenergy in 1995. Most of Africa’s biomassenergy use is in sub-Saharan Africa. Biomassaccounts for 5 per cent of North African,15 per cent of Southern African, and 86 percent of sub-Saharan Africa consumption (minusSouth Africa). Wood, including charcoal, is themost common and the most environmentallydetrimental biomass energy source. Firewoodaccounts for about 65 per cent of biomass use,and charcoal accounts for about 3 per cent (Energyin Africa, 1999).Women and children suffer disproportionatelyfrom the negative health effects of thesmoke generated by fuelwood used for cooking(smoke is a carcinogen and causes respiratoryproblems). About 75 per cent of wood harvestedin sub-Saharan Africa is used for householdcooking. Production of traditional fuels is ofteninsufficient to meet rising demand. Fuel availableto the poorest communities is expectedto decline, thereby intensifying environmentaldegradation in those communities. End-use efficiencyfor most traditional fuels is low. A highconcentration of fuels is needed to produce a lowlevel of energy, and a significant share is wasted.South Africa is unique in sub-Saharan Africaas biomass accounts for only 15 per cent of itsenergy consumption. There is a range of energyoptions available in South Africa: biomass,kerosene, coal, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG),Traditional Fuel Consumption as a Percentage of Total Energy UseSource: World Bank. 2002. World Development Indicators 2002. CD-ROM. Washington, DC.216