Last week the infrastructure authorities announced a Sh49 billion budget increase over the next five years to convert the ongoing Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project from diesel to electric traction.
This is a positive design modification that is bound to add quantifiable economic and green values to Kenya. When implemented, the Kenya rail systems will, since early 1900s, have transitioned from steam traction, to diesel engines, and finally to electric motors.
The only lamentable fact is that the decision to electrify SGR was apparently “forced” on Kenya by Uganda and Rwanda as a condition for future rail connectivity through the two countries.
Many of us had from the very beginning expressed strong opinions that diesel traction was retrogressive when the whole world was directionally going electric.
Our neighbour Ethiopia last month commissioned a new 750-kilometre electric SGR running from Addis to the Red Sea port of Djibouti.
Technically, whichever methods are used to convert from diesel to electric locomotives, there is a definite budgetary wastage which could have been avoided if we went electric from the onset.
However, budgetary and procurement effectiveness is not the focus of this article which only seeks to address the broader economic and green benefits of the planned SGR shift to electrification.
Use of electricity by SGR reduces use of foreign exchange on imported diesel which improves the country’s balance of payments and trade.
Secondly, electrification shall be delivering on carbon reductions in the transportation sector. It can be correctly assumed that the electricity to be used by SGR shall incrementally be from mainly green renewable geothermal and wind resources.
Locally produced and regulated electricity is expected to provide lower energy costs which are a significant component of the rail tariffs.
These costs are predictable and sustainable over time since they are immune from global commodity volatility which routinely impacts diesel costs.
Indeed use of diesel for SGR traction is a contradiction to the intentions of the ambitious 5000 MW electricity generation plan which I understand had assumed electrification of SGR.
This brings me to the key subject of low carbon transportation which is mainly defined as a shift from use of petroleum fuels to the use of electricity, usually from renewable sources, for transportation. Currently, global focus is on rail and road transportation.
In addition to electrification of SGR, further opportunities for green transportation for Kenya exist in the planned implementation the urban mass public transportation systems.
Electric trains and trams should be on top of options for mass urban transportation because electrified systems are modern, economic, efficient, clean and green. Use of diesel trains and buses should be an option carrying the least weighting.
In respect of electrified road transportation (vehicles), research and technology are making fast progress towards practical and cheaper solutions, focusing mainly on improved technology for the lithium-ion battery and provision of efficient battery charging facilities.
In another decade electric vehicles may be a routine feature on our roads.
The aviation and marine transportation are however expected to remain on petroleum use for much longer, with fuel-use efficiencies being the main thrust for reducing carbon emissions in these two sectors.
Yes last year we saw the adventurous solar powered aircraft making around the globe flight, and this is an indication that future electrification of aviation is not out of question, however long it takes.
However, a recent World Energy Council report reminds us that oil shall continue to play a significant role in transportation and will globally account for as much as 60 per cent of transportation energy mix by 2060.
Hardest obstacle
The report adds that transitioning global transportation from oil is going to be the hardest obstacle in de-carbonizing the energy systems.
Kenya has oil and coal deposits awaiting commercialization, and these present major economic and energy opportunities for the country. Oil and coal are classified as high carbon non-renewable energy sources.
But these are local energy resources that should effectively fit in our national energy mix to maximize overall economic value to the country.
I believe an optimum national energy mix should target maximising locally sourced energy, minimising imported energy, while maximizing energy exports when opportunities arise.
In respect of crude oil, in the absence of a local refinery, all crude oil shall invariably go into exports leaving us to focus on minimizing importation of refined products through substitution with locally sourced energy.
When local coal resources are developed, they should as a priority replace imported fuel oil used by heavy industries. Coal should enter energy power generation only when it has met “heating” demands for heavy industries (steel, cement, etc).
Finally, the electrification of SGR as discussed earlier is a ready solution for oil import substitution, and because of large volumes of diesel involved, the impact on balance of payment is significant.
For the climate change enthusiasts, the carbon reduction associated with SGR is similarly large and can qualify for carbon credits.
Source: Bussiness Daily Africa
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.
