Zambia Geoffrey Musonda EECZ Zambia Working draft

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1 Knowledge network on sustainable household energy in Southern and Eastern Africa Policy Dialogue Zambia Geoffrey Musonda EECZ Zambia Working draft An initiative of Intermediate Technology Development Group UK, East Africa (Kenya) and Southern Africa (Zimbabwe/Mozambique) Eco Ltd UK Eco Consulting Group Germany Energy and Environmental Concerns for Zambia Zambia Makerere University, Women and Gender Studies Department Uganda Rural Area Power Solutions (Pty) Ltd South Africa Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre, Energy Technology Institute Zimbabwe TaTEDO, Tanzania Traditional Energy Development and Environment Organisation Tanzania University of Twente, Technology and Development Group Netherlands University of Liverpool, Department of Public Health UK In association with HEDON Household Energy Network Supported by The European Commission, International Co-operation (INCO), FP5

2 1 INTRODUCTION This policy document is derived from the sparknet scenario analysis for Zambia, which was presented during the first conference held in October The document builds up on the scenario analysis to identify the priority options and actions for Zambia under the main categories of Gender, Health, Forestry and Access. Each policy priority is expanded to define goals and objectives and explore possible impacts. The policy looks further at how these policies will be implemented, who would implement them and what would be the best approach to implement them. 2 POLICY OPTIONS IDENTIFIED FOR ZAMBIA Based on the scenario analysis of last year, a list of policy options were identified and discussed. These are listed in categories of Access, Health, Forestry and Gender under sections 2.1 to 2.4. Combining and summarising some of the policies derive priorities. These priority policies would have major impact if correctly implemented. 2.1 Access and Choice The policies as identified previously are as follows: 2 Find mechanisms to provide wide choice of energy forms for household use and for income generation projects to improve standard of living of the rural and urban poor 3 Come up with schemes for people to purchase the required equipment and gadgets to use with the different sources of energy 4 Promote projects and production with the view to improve the economy so that it would be possible to implement the RE programmes, and extend the current electricity generation capacity. 5 Commercialisation and opening up of the power sector to private investors (ongoing) 6 Strengthen regional power interconnections to deal with power shortages. 7 Use energy to energise the economic growth through export of excess electricity and localising production of bio fuels for the transport sector. 8 Funding for the development of the mini grid power units and sustainable renewable energy systems drive 9 Pricing policies that will not only provide affordable sources of energy to all people but also look at their being enough returns to attract investors to source for and distribute the energy. 10 Work on distribution channels to make the energy accessible to all people 11 Build up investor confidence for both local and foreign investors to invest in the energy sector. 12 Promote affordable energy sources for cooking to substitute charcoal 13 Work on the distributional channels of LPG and kerosene so that they reach all people including the rural communities 14 Plan for expansion of grid electricity to cater for all Zambians. 15 Use the most effective way of electrifying areas Plan for expansion of grid electricity to cater for all Zambians. 16 Encourage downstream usage of electricity especially to the beneficiaries of the RE to embark on income generating projects 2

3 Priority Policy A Develop mechanism to improve the supply chains of alternative domestic fuels (i.e. kerosene, LPG and Gel fuel) and implement schemes for the poor households to afford alternative fuels. Priority Policy B Devise the most economic strategy of accelerating the rate of rural electrification projects and build capacities of local beneficiaries in order for hem to use electricity to improve their productivity. 2.2 Gender Look at the plight of women and children Priority Policy Develop energy policy interventions that will be responsive to the societal roles of women and children and reduce the amount of time women spend on looking for energy resources. 2.3 Health Work on drawing up data on levels of IAP and verification of linkage between this and ALRI Regional co-operation on IAP and ALRI information dissemination, management and control Dissemination of information on IAP and ALRI with regional and cross ministry participation Work on verification of dissemination of information on IAP and risks on ALRI, draw up programmes to encourage people to use more efficient biomass stoves, regional programmes may be embarked on since there are similarities in wood usage patterns especially in the sub-saharan African countries Promote energy efficient utilisation of energy resources Encourage use of clean energy technologies. Priority Policy Disseminate quantified information on the health risks of using unclean fuels and promote the use of energy efficient end use devices. 2.4 Forestry Look at the effect of the charcoal production on deforestation and put measures in place to control it Planning of the afforestation programmes Have Ministries join hands on common issues such as the Ministry of Environment, The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Energy and Power Development on biomass energy Promote community participation in management of energy resources to enhance sense of belonging. Priority Policy Develop forest resource management and afforestation programmes involving government ministries and local communities. 3

4 3 DISCUSSION OF PRIORITY POLICIES For each of the identified priority policies listed above, a short analysis has been compiled. This expands the policy goal and possible impact, and discusses who will do it, best approaches and resources required. 3.1 Access and Choice Priority Policy A Develop mechanism to improve the supply chains of alternative domestic fuels (i.e. kerosene, LPG and Gel fuel) and implement schemes for the poor households to afford alternative fuels. Goal: The aim of this policy is to increase access to modern domestic energy resources. The policy also aims to provide schemes, which could assist in access to end use devices (i.e. LPG stoves), which are beyond the reach of most poor households in Zambia. The policy encourages review of the already existing supply chains and revises them in order to improve access and choice of modern domestic energy to the poor households Who would do it? The approach to implementation of policy in Zambia is taking a multi disciplinary approach. The government through the Ministry of Energy and Water Development would take the lead, however, other stakeholders like the private sector and Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBO) are to take a supportive role. Involvement of communities in the development of the policies would be very cardinal Best Approach The policy requires a mixed approach, promoting appropriate supply options for different energy services and communities. In order to address the issue it would be advisable to divide the communities in urban and rural categories. It would also help to concentrate on low-income households. The households can also be divided into electrified and non-electrified categories Urban Low-income electrified households; these households mainly use electricity for lighting and charcoal for cooking. Options would be to assist them in purchase of electric stoves and educate them on the efficient utilisation of electricity. Low-income non- electrified households; these households mainly use charcoal for cooking and kerosene for lighting. In some rare cases they use candles for lighting and firewood for cooking and heating. Options would be to encourage households to switch to cleaner fuels like LPG and use of energy efficient cookstoves. The options should also look at the supply chain of the modern energy fuels. In Zambia, gas is rarely used as a domestic fuel, there is therefore great need to create awareness on the fuel, and people believe that it is dangerous. Most of the poor households have a monthly income, which can hardly buy an LPG gas stove, there is therefore great need to work out loan schemes to enable the poor people afford the stoves. Government should also look at reducing taxes and promote local production of LPG stoves and cylinders. There is great need for the Energy Regulation Board (energy regulator) to regulate the market and enforce safety standards Rural Low-income electrified households: these households use electricity for lighting and firewood for cooking. Only 2% of the households in the rural areas are electrified. There is need to come up with schemes to provide stoves to these households in order to encourage them to cook on electric stoves. Low-income non- electrified households; these households mainly use firewood for coking and kerosene and firewood for lighting. The supply chains for modern fuels are very poor. LPG and kerosene are not readily 4

5 available in the rural areas. The pricing of petroleum products is such that the products are more costly in rural areas because of the transport cost. This does not help matters because it limits access to the poor households in rural areas. There is need to provide schemes for the poor in order for them to afford the modern energy fuels. There is need to come up with smart subsidies to cushion the impact of the cost of the modern fuels. There is also need to introduce improved firewood stoves in cases where people cannot access modern fuels. Government should continue on its poverty reduction programmes, which include promotion of LPG as a substitute to charcoal and firewood Resources needed There is need for government to estimate the resources required and include these estimates in the national budget. The private sector and the NGOs should also contribute towards the realisation of the policy. It could also help if all the stakeholders could pool their resources together to avoid scattering financial efforts Priority Policy B Devise the most economic strategy of accelerating the rate of rural electrification projects and build capacities of local beneficiaries in order for hem to use electricity to improve their productivity. Goal: To find the most effective way of providing electricity to rural areas and increase income generation potential and improve the standard of living of the rural people Who will do it? This government through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is expected to spearhead the policy. The REA aims to promote private sector participation in rural electrification, so private sector should also participate. Involvement of other governmental and non-governmental organisations in the capacity building of local communities in utilisation of electricity for income generation is important Best Approach The REA should mobilise resources to electrify rural areas and should involve the private sector. Rural electrification is currently progressing at a slow rate and what is needed is to accelerate the pace. The REA should develop standards that would be able to deliver electricity to the low-income households at relatively low costs. It has been observed that connecting an area to the grid or providing electricity is just a means to increased income generation. There is great need to deliberately introduce income generation activities in areas where electricity has been supplied. There is need for the Ministry of Energy & Water Development to work with Ministries responsible for rural development and plan electrification programmes together. Access to electricity will improve the standard of leaving of rural people by providing improved social services in health and education. The Zambian energy policy currently targets to electrify schools and health centres and this approach should continue. 3.2 Gender Policy Develop energy policy interventions that will be responsive the societal roles of women and children and reduce the amount of time women spend on looking for energy resources Goal: The goal of the policy is to empower women so that they can have a choice when it comes to selection of energy and be able to have spare time to attend to some other societal and economic demands. Women are very instrumental in the African society and are the custodians of most customs, which are deeply enshrined in most cultures. They need time to rest and think about the other ways and means of improving incomes of the households. The policy aims at designing energy strategies that would lessen he burden that society places on women and children. The policy also aims at including women themselves in the designing of energy policies. 5

6 3.2.2 Who will do it? The Ministry of Energy and Water Development together with the Department of Gender in Development should spearhead the policy formulation and implementation. Local Government and Education Ministries should also help in the implementation of the policies. The NGOs and Community Based Organisations should participate in the implementation Best Approach The Ministry of Energy & Water Development will need to review the national energy policy to make it more gender sensitive (policy currently under review and has a chapter on crosscutting issues which includes gender). All projects planned should deliberately be sensitive to gender issues. Practical demonstrations of gender sensitivity should be demonstrated, what has been happening in the recent past has been to include gender issues after projects have been designed. There is need for the country to strengthen, the energy gender network which has already been formed. Men and women should participate in the implementation of gender sensitive energy strategies, once left to women alone, the end result will be gender insensitive Resources needed the energy policy is currently under review and so far resources have been committed. However some resources will be required during the implementation phase. 3.3 Health Policy Disseminate quantified information on the health risks of using unclean fuels and promote the use of energy efficient end use devices Goal the goal of the policy is to amplify the health effects that are associated with usage of unclean fuels and use of inefficient end use devices. Most people do not know that the smoke that comes from their fire is a health hazard because they have been exposed to this environment since they were born. Some of the people are ignorant because of lack of information but even the few that get the information find it difficult to believe because it is not quantifiable and qualifiable. However, most people know that it is not advisable for pregnant woman and TB patients to smoke cigarettes. The policy is aimed at providing information to the users of the dirty fuels to know about the effects of smoke on their health Who will do it? The Ministries of Health and Energy should forge a very strong alliance in the implementation of the policy. The local structures of the two Ministries should involve local communities and mount a public awareness campaigns. Civil society should also actively participate Best Approach The Ministry of Energy & Water Development and the Ministry of Health should mount a public awareness campaign. The Ministry of Health should include illnesses arising from using dirty fuels and how the prevention can be done. It is also important to conduct studies and link smoke from fires to respiratory infections. The local communities should be involved Resources Needed Financial resources will be required for the studies and some of the resources are available at the Ministry of Health for public awareness. 6

7 3.4 Forestry Policy Develop forest resource management and afforestation programmes involving government ministries and local communities Goal to ensure participation of the local communities in the formulation and implementation of policy in the forestry sector in Zambia. This policy will also try to modernise some of the traditional methods of forest management. It will also utilise the already existing traditional structures as a means of implementation. It also aims at improving the working relationship between the Ministry of Energy & Water Development (Department of Energy) and the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (Forestry Department) Who will do it? The Department of Energy and the Forestry Department should spearhead the implementation of the policy formulation and implementation. Ministry of Local Government and Housing should also participate. The local communities and NGOs should also participate in the implementation Best Approach The Department of Energy and the Forestry Department should first of all define the boundaries in terms of implementation of the policy to avoid overriding each other s territory. Once this has been resolved then pilot local communities should be organised so that projects can be implemented. The Forestry Department already has similar projects although the emphasis is not on fuel wood. Then interested communities can apply for the pilot projects Resources needed Financial, promotional and training resources 7

8 4 POLICY ACTIONS In order to fully implement the priority policies certain actions have to be taken by the institutions involved in the implementation. Below are some of the recommended actions: Access and Choice The following are the recommended actions: Clearly define and institutionalise the supply chains of modern domestic fuels like kerosene and LPG Make the price of petroleum products uniform through out the country by working out a mechanism of either cross subsidisation or smart subsidies Offer incentives to chain stores to introduce hire purchase which is not yet common in Zambia Offer subsidies by removing import duty on end use devices for modern domestic fuels Gender The following are the recommended actions: Targeted awareness creation on the linkage between gender and energy to be aggressively conducted. To be targeted would be politicians, traditional rulers, church leaders and any other influential citizens. Government to allocate more resources in the national budget towards the energy gender network. Other stakeholders also to pool resources together with government. Introduce gender studies in school curricular from grade 1 up to university Publicize information on how women spend time on a daily basis and emphasise on the time spent on collecting fuel. Health The following are the recommended actions: Targeted awareness creation on the linkage between using dirty fuels and respiratory infections to be aggressively conducted. To be targeted would be politicians, traditional rulers, church leaders and any other influential citizens. General information on the dangers of the smoke from fires in confined spaces to be disseminated through the print and the electronic media. The Ministry of Health to be actively involved in the creation of awareness and implementation of preventative measures. Forestry The following are the recommended actions: Cabinet to clearly define the roles to be played by the Departments of Energy and Forestry. Tradition methods of forest management to be studied and included among the modern techniques Local communities should come up with the initiative of participating in forestry management through applying for pilot projects. Outcomes of pilot projects to be disseminated to other local communities. 8