{"id":350820,"date":"2024-11-11T07:28:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T06:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=350820"},"modified":"2024-11-11T07:28:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T06:28:47","slug":"climate-colonialisms-role-in-nigerias-blackouts-a-manufactured-energy-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=350820","title":{"rendered":"Climate Colonialism\u2019s Role in Nigeria\u2019s Blackouts: A Manufactured Energy Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Charles Rotter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigeria, Africa\u2019s most populous country, has found itself repeatedly plunged into darkness. In 2024 alone, the country\u2019s national power grid has collapsed ten times, leaving millions without electricity. The most recent blackout, triggered by weak infrastructure and sabotage, underscores an enduring energy crisis that hinders economic growth and development. But beneath the surface lies a critical question: why hasn\u2019t one of the world\u2019s most resource-rich nations been able to build a resilient energy system?<\/p>\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.the-express.com\/news\/world-news\/154053\/nigeria-power-grid-outage-november<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The answer lies in a combination of internal challenges and external pressures\u2014most notably, the influence of climate colonialism<\/strong>, where global financial institutions and wealthy nations dictate energy policies that prioritize carbon reduction over human development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Nation in the Dark<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite having over 200 million people, Nigeria\u2019s energy system is woefully underdeveloped. The country has the capacity to generate up to 13,000 megawatts (MW)<\/strong> of electricity, but weak infrastructure allows for the transmission of only 4,000 MW<\/strong>. This is less than 0.02 MW per person\u2014barely enough to power basic household appliances. To fill the gap, households and businesses generate an estimated 40,000 MW<\/strong> using costly, gasoline-powered generators\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This overreliance on small-scale generation is neither efficient nor sustainable. Yet international financing for large-scale fossil fuel infrastructure\u2014such as natural gas-fired power plants\u2014has dried up. Instead, funds are increasingly directed toward renewable energy projects that fail to meet Nigeria\u2019s baseload energy needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International Pressure: A Recipe for Crisis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, wealthy nations and global institutions have adopted aggressive decarbonization policies, with a growing refusal to fund fossil fuel development in poorer countries. This policy shift disproportionately affects nations like Nigeria, which lack the financial resources to replace fossil fuels with expensive renewable technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n