UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Oluwaseun Viyon Ojo

INTRODUCTION

Climate change and global warming are undeniably undermining global development with developing or emerging economies being the worse hit in this unfortunate development. In recent times, it has become necessary to adopt effective adaptation measures that mitigate the impact of climate change on the social, political, and economic environment. A global shift to low-carbon energy technologies through the gradual integration of renewable energy resources in the global energy mix has been generally proposed. Whilst legal and regulatory initiatives are indeed crucial in driving this global energy transition, it is equally imperative that the necessary capital is unlocked to finance the construction, development, and expansion of renewable energy projects in Africa. This paper focused on examining the impact of renewable energy technologies on climate change mitigation, and analysed the role of Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) in unlocking the vast opportunities associated with renewable energy technologies or projects, with a view to driving the clean energy transition in Africa.

Keywords: Climate Change, Global Warming, Renewable Energy Technologies, Development Financial Institutions, Financing.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v12i1.5

Oluwaseun Viyon Ojo,LLB(Hons). BL, Associate, Duale, Ovia and Alex-Adedipe Law Firm, and is experienced in all aspects of corporate finance, project finance, project development and mergers and acquisitions in the power, oil and gas and telecommunications, media and technology sector. I am grateful to the reviewers for their comments and revisions on this article and I fully accept responsibility for all errors and mistake in this paper. The author can be contacted atojoviyon2010@yahoo.com orojoviyon2010@gmail.com. (Received 10 February 2021; final version received 30 May 2021

NATIONAL STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT: WHITHER NIGERIA?

Andrea A. Ajibade*

ABSTRACT

Renewable energy (RE) development enhances electrification, mitigates climate change and aids energy efficiency. Kenya, South Africa and Ghana, among other states within sub-Saharan Africa, have established legal regimes to integrate renewable energy into their energy mix. Through defined legal strategies for RE deployment, these states have committed to the promotion, development and utilization of RE. Despite the momentum towards renewable energy development across the region, Nigeria’s efforts fall short of establishing effective legal strategies. As Africa’s most populous nation it must do more to make RE part of its energy mix in order to impact electrification rates, mitigate climate change and aid socio-economic conditions. This article appraises the legal strategies for RE development in Kenya, South Africa and Ghana. Against this appraisal, it critically evaluates Nigeria’s legal strategies to promote and develop RE. It recommends legal reforms that are necessary to better integrate RE into Nigeria’s energy mix. The methodological approach of this article is doctrinal and library-based. It includes primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include laws, statutes, legal documents, conventions and statistics. Secondary sources include journal articles, internet sources and newspaper articles. All sources are subject to content analysis. It is expected that the article will be useful to policy and lawmakers across various tiers of government in Nigeria.

Keywords: Renewable Energy Development, Electrification, Energy Efficiency, National Strategies.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v10i1.5

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* Lecturer Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, University of Lagos. This article is the outcome of a research conducted as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The author wishes to especially thank Professor Sope Williams-Elegbe and Professor Richard Stevens of

RENEWABLE ENERGY IN UKRAINE: TOWARDS NATIONAL ECO-MANAGEMENT

Katerina Fedorova*

ABSTRACT

The national energy security and independence issue is currently the most important problem in Ukraine. Continuous political games around traditional energy import sources exhaust the Ukrainian economy and lead to a systemic crisis. Ukraine has a huge natural potential for the development of green economy, but sustainable development in Ukraine is still at the initial stage of its evolution. Certainly, the transition to renewable energy technologies will be an effective solution to the key energy, environmental, social and political crises in Ukraine. Thus, the main attention of the author is focused on the renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal. It is emphasized that Ukraine has its national production of technical equipment for each of these areas of renewable energy. Along with alternative energy development issues, the author opens a wide panorama of current political, economic, social and security problems in Ukraine, which are deeply interdependent. The author argues that at its current level of development, Ukraine needs a comprehensive update of national ecomanagement strategy and a rational use of the potential natural programme. This will help the country to overcome the crisis permanently, transit from being a consumerist economic model towards an environmentally sustainable economic development and to integrate completely into Euro-Atlantic structures.

Keywords: renewable energy, sustainable development, eco-management, eco-economy, Ukraine.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v7i2.2

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* PhD (Political Science, Ukraine), Member of the International Scientific Committee, ‘Zwiastowaæ. Nauki i praktyki’, Warsaw, Poland. www.fedorova@gmail.com

POWERING NIGERIA THROUGH RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY INVESTMENTS: LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION

Peter Kayode Oniemola*

ABSTRACT

Renewable energy has a prominent role in promoting energy access and addressing environmental concerns with energy use in Nigeria. However, there are legal barriers that have not allowed renewable energy to be used in the Nigerian electricity sector. The absence of an effective legal framework to encourage and promote investment in renewable energy is a major challenge. This article investigates the barriers to promotion of investment in renewable electricity in the country. These barriers include the lack of unison and clarity of roles for institutions relevant to the promotion of renewables, high cost and lack of funds, inability of consumers to bear the cost of subsidies, lack of priority access and connection to the grid, short licensing duration, and lack of adequate and reliable information, which consumers, investors and the government can rely upon. To address these concerns, and to make investments in the renewable energy sector more favourable, there is the need to develop an effective legal framework that addresses barriers to investment in renewable electricity. This article presents insights on how the law can be used as an instrument for realizing the development of renewable electricity in Nigeria.

Keywords: Renewable, energy, power, electricity, investment, sustainable development.

Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jsdlp.v6i1.4

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* LL.B (Ilorin), BL (Nigerian Law School), LL.M (Ibadan), PhD (Aberdeen), Legal Practitioner & Consultant email: petermola@yahoo.com.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL LAW: READINGS ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND THE LAW IN NIGERIA

Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, FCIArb.*

OVERVIEW

The book, Food and Agricultural Law is Nigeria’s first authoritative book publication on food, agriculture and renewable energy. In reviewing this book, the ultimate aim is to examine the key arguments and fundamental assumptions of the book and to evaluate whether it significantly advances knowledge in this unique and important area of law in Nigeria. After a painstaking review and analyses of this book, it is evident that the book delivers more than it promised. This theory-laden, analytical and expository publication offers excellent wealth of materials and knowledge on food, agriculture and renewable energy. The book will be relevant for a long time to come.

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* Professor of Law, Legal Practitioner, Consultant and Head, Department of Public and International Law, Nasarawa State University, Keffi and Visiting Professor, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.