Battleship Reason

Europe Looks to Africa for Solar Power

If you’ve taken the time to read the full article, I congratulate you. If not, I’ll give you a brief summary. Europe is hoping to create the world’s largest CSP (concentrating solar plant) in Northern Africa, and then transport the energy to Europe using high-voltage cables. If this project succeeds, then full fifteen percent of Europe’s energy will come from clean renewable sources. The project is not without opposition however – many European and African commentators have noted that this is an extension of Europe’s imperialistic tendencies – exploiting Africa’s resources in order to benefit Europe’s nations. Others have also noted that this would simply switch Europe’s dependency from Arab-owned oil towards African-owned solar power.

While the two issues mentioned above are valid concerns, I believe that the fruition of the project would bring about more benefit than harm. For example, those who argue that this would be another form of exploitation are potentially correct. The way to address this would be to ensure that the technical labour, as well as technical maintenance, and eventually management, is drawn from native population that is educated to such a standard that it would be capable of completely staffing one such facility. If anything, this creates a pool of skills that is transferrable to new generations born into this population – something that will ensure that a steady supply of highly skilled labour (both blue and white collar) provides a solid economic base on which the country’s taxpaying practices may reside. Looking at short-term benefits on the other hand, to put it quite simply – jobs are created. When jobs are created (an in particular where salaries come from overseas), money is fuelled into the economy, which means the government has more taxpayers, and can consequently invest more money into economic revitalisation projects. Eventually this would create a stable situation that would potentially lessen some of the high immigration rates seen in North African countries. In particular, I am referring to the high influx of Moroccans into France, and the racial tension that has arisen as a result. Most of the Moroccans in France would not see further reasons to stay if Morocco was seen to have developed an economy capable of supporting not only the basic necessities of life, but also minor luxuries.

I also do not understand why is Europe’s dependence on Africa viewed as such a negative thing. Why not be dependent? We share a history (even though at times it is a negative one), and geographical proximity makes Africa a natural ally and trading market. In an age where North Africa is dependent upon Europe for aid, trade, tourists, and suchlike, it would not necessarily be a negative thing to have reciprocated dependency. If anything, it might stabilize the situation in African countries, particularly if European stakeholders have a direct interest in the assets of those countries. It could also usher into a new era, whereby North Africa might be considered so European that accession to the European Union would not be out of the question.

And of course, after that – the rest of the world.