Category Archives: Africa

Role of Algerian Matorrals in Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Adaptation

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Matorrals, Mediterranean shrublands including maquis and garrigue form a key component of Algeria’s ecological landscapes. Stretching from coastal zones to foothills and lower mountain belts, they serve as transitional ecosystems between humid northern forests and southern semi-arid steppes. Despite their limited spatial coverage, they host rich biodiversity, including many endemic and xerophytic species, and provide crucial ecosystem services such as soil protection, carbon storage, and hydrological regulation. Their structural diversity and adaptive traits make them among the most resilient vegetation types under Mediterranean climatic stress. Recent national studies and international assessments (IUCN, Plan Bleu) highlight their essential role in land … Continue reading →

Why Mediterranean Countries are Safest Bet to Solve Energy Crisis in Europe

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Europe has been desperately trying to find alternative sources of energy to replace Russian gas. American Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) imports used today, is only a temporary solution and not a long-term one, due to its high costs and transport limitations. However, Algeria, Israel, Egypt, and possibly other transit nations like Libya and Turkey in the future can all contribute significantly to the continent’s increased energy demands. In the Eastern Mediterranean significant amounts of natural gas have recently been discovered recently and could increase gas collaborations with Europe. Algeria increased its pipeline supplies to Europe by over 10% on available … Continue reading →

Solar Energy in Morocco: Key Projects to Know

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Morocco, being the largest energy importer in North Africa, is making concerted efforts to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels. Renewable energy is an attractive proposition as Morocco has almost complete dependence on imported energy carriers. Morocco is already spending over USD 13.5 billion each year on fuel and electricity imports and is experiencing power demand growth of 5 per cent per year. The National Energy and Energy Efficiency Plan was launched in 2008 which aims to develop renewable energy to meet 15 percent of the country’s energy demand and to increase the use of energy-saving methods.  The total … Continue reading →

Morocco-Nigeria Gas Pipeline: Economy Development or Environmental Disaster

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An ambitious project concerning energy industry in Africa between Morocco and Nigeria was set to be constructed to enhance the acceleration of electrification projects across the West African region. The objective of Morocco-Nigeria pipeline project is aimed at creation of a competitive regional market of electricity, and to connect gas resources from Nigeria to West African countries including Morocco. The pipeline project will be approximately 5,660-km long and its construction works will be in phases covering 25 years. After feasibility studies in 2017, the two countries opted for a combined onshore-offshore route to build the pipeline. The two countries are … Continue reading →

Renewable Energy in Morocco: Potential and Progress

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Morocco, being one of the largest energy importers in MENA, is making concerted efforts to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels. Renewable energy is an attractive proposition as Morocco has almost complete dependence on imported energy carriers. In 2022, Morocco spent around US$13.5 billion on all energy imports (crude oil and oil products, coal, natural gas and electricity). Annual electricity consumption in Morocco was 38 TWh in 2022, and is steadily increasing at a rate of around 7 percent each year. The major sources of renewable energy in Morocco are solar and wind power. Wind energy potential is excellent … Continue reading →

Renewable Energy Prospects in Africa

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With a sixth of the world’s population, Africa generates a measly four percent of the world’s electricity, three-quarters of which is used by South Africa and northern Africa. According to World Bank statistics, more than 500 million Africans (almost two-thirds of the total population) have no access to “modern energy.” Hydropower accounts for around 45% of electricity generation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) while biomass (mostly firewood) constitutes about 56 percent of all energy use in sub-Saharan Africa. Large-scale use of forest biomass is accelerating deforestation, and the World Bank estimates that 45,000 square kilometers of forest were lost between 1990 … Continue reading →

Nile – The Lifeline of Egypt

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The Nile always played a key role in the lives of Egyptians. It made living in the desert possible, provided drinking water; it was a source of irrigation and most importantly created fertile soil that allowed for growing crops to feed the masses. The Nile also offered an ideal means of transport for goods and people thus causing development of boats and other water traveling methods. During the course of history, using the Nile for trading with other countries proved easier and safer than land. The trip from northern to southern Egypt would have been very strenuous if it wasn’t … Continue reading →

Alternative Energy Prospects in Morocco

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Morocco, being the largest energy importer in North Africa, is making concerted efforts to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels. The country currently imports 95% of its energy needs which creates strong dependence on foreign energy imports. Renewable energy is an attractive proposition as Morocco has almost complete dependence on imported energy carriers. Morocco is already spending over US$3 billion a year on fuel and electricity imports and is experiencing power demand growth of 6.5 per cent a year. Morocco is investing heavily in the power sector by building new power plants such as expansion of coal power plant in JorfLasfer and establishment … Continue reading →

نظرة على مشاكل تونس البيئية

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سيقودنا قلمنا هذه المرة إلى دولة إفريقية عربية تعد من بين أجمل البلدان و أعظمها من حيث تراثها المادي و اللامادي. إنها دولة تقع في شمال إفريقيا، يحدها من الغرب دولة الجزائر و من الشمال و الشرق البحر الأبيض المتوسط أما جنوبها الغربي فتحدها دولة ليبيا، و تتخللها واحات من النخيل و أشجار الزيتون، و أراض من القمح و الشعير. إنها تونس العريقة، مزيج بين ما ترك الاسلاف من أقواس و أبواب و ما حباها آلله من سواحل و جبال و صحاري. تتميز تونس بمناخ معتدل، فدرجات الحرارة معتدلة صيفا و شتاءا، فمناخها الرائع و موقعها الجغرافي الجميل، ساهم بشكل … Continue reading →

Urban Development in Nouakchott – Perspectives and Challenges

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Nouakchott, capital city of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is the biggest city in the Sahara region. Like other major cities worldwide, the city is plagued by environmental, social and economic challenges. Sewage disposal network, dating back to 1960’s is no longer sufficient for Nouakchott. The country is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and woody biomass for meeting energy requirements, though there is good potential of solar, wind and biomass energy. Solid waste management is becoming a major headache for city planners. Population is increasing at a tremendous pace which is putting tremendous strain on meager civic resources. Making of … Continue reading →

CDM Enhancing Africa’s Profile Among Investors

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The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an extremely simple concept. Companies in developed economies can continue with their polluting ways so long as they pay for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere in the world. Substitute Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Zimbabwe and a string of other African countries for ‘elsewhere’. CDM may not figure highly on the financial radar screens of many entrepreneurs and business people across the globe. They’re probably much more exercised over the merits or otherwise of business banking services, But maybe they should be looking at CDM, not least because entrepreneurial activity and green make interesting bedfellows these days. … Continue reading →

Water Crisis in Egypt and Degeneration of the Nile

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Egypt is struggling to cope with water shortages and food production. It is expected that Egypt’s per capita annual water supply will drop from 600 cubic meters today to 500 cubic meters by 2025, which is the UN threshold for absolute water scarcity. Egypt has only 20 cubic meters per person of internal renewable freshwater resources, and as a result the country relies heavily on the Nile for its main source of water. Water scarcity has become so severe that it has been recorded that certain areas in the country could go days without water, with pressure sometimes returning only … Continue reading →