Abstract
The energy sector in many African countries faces challenges such as supplying electricity to the public in a sustainable manner, demand and supply challenges, institutional and governance challenges, private investment obstacles, unequal supply of energy, rolling blackouts, and grid maintenance and infrastructure challenges. These challenges are coupled with and linked to other social and basic service delivery challenges in a developmental context. New renewable delivery modes through independent power production (IPP) present a window of opportunity for massive investments in Africa. The aim of this paper is to determine the potential for IPP, as well as the barriers for the sustainable management thereof in selected upper middle-income countries in Africa. A cross-case study method is used. Content analysis was used to analyse 13 middle-income African countries. Country case studies were conducted on upper middle-income African economies. Country profiles comprise Angola, Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The following criteria were used to identify barriers: energy technology, investment, socioeconomic development risk, sovereign risk, policy drivers, policy content, legislative basis for IPP, management of stakeholders, and governance risk. Barriers include economic, political, and sovereign risk, as well as maintenance and grid expansion challenges. The need to help the environment, as a driver, is not strong. The strongest current drivers are pricing, cost, and market incentives. The benefits of managing natural resources and facilitating sustainable development exist but are implicit.