THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT IN AFRICA.

According to a series of assessments of African infrastructure made in 2006 by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Consortium for Infrastructure in Africa (ICA):

• In the poorest countries of Africa, fewer than one in five people has access to electricity
• Only 56% have access to drinking water
• Barely a third of rural residents living near a road
• Only 4% of Africa's agricultural land is irrigated
• Over 60% of the population lacks basic sanitation

The existing infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa are not only insufficient compared to needs, notes a detailed analysis of the World Bank entitled: Diagnostic study of national infrastructure in Africa.But their development has considerably behind that of other poor  regions.Africa has less than a quarter of kilometers of paved roads compared to other developing regions.And approximately one eighth of their electrical generating capacity per capita.

• The energy deficit

According to the ADB, the 1.5 billion people who live without electricity in the world, 80% live in sub-Saharan Africa.A study by the World Bank published in 2010 stressed that "the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa (800 million people) generate roughly the same amount of power as Spain (45 million)."The energy infrastructure deficit is all the more a handicap that the low level of access to energy, and more significant impact on the economic competitiveness of local companies, is almost always related to a health service deficiency and education for the population.

• The transportation deficit

The capacity of the port infrastructure is often in short of needs.The port of Bissau, for example, lung's economy, now receives about 30,000 containers per year.While it was originally built to receive 5,000.And one could almost say the same of the port of San Pedro in Côte d'Ivoire or that of Dakar, Senegal.On the other hand, lack of road and rail makes it difficult the connection between the places of production and consumption markets.Making it difficult intra-African trade which accounts for the fact that about 10% of total African exports.

• Water deficit and assainissment

Upgrading treatment systems, supply and distribution of potable water, household access to sanitation facilities as well as waste management are major concerns for urban populations.

• The impact of growth on infrastructure needs

Between 2001 and 2010, Africa has recorded an average growth rate of GDP of 5.2% an.A trend expected to continue over the coming decades.

As the PIDA which the projections on the need for Africa's infrastructure is based on a GDP growth forecast of 6% per year until 2040.This growth and sustainable prosperity will multiply the demand for infrastructure, the shortage is already one of the biggest obstacles to the development of the continent.

According to PIDA, the energy demand of about 590 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2010 would increase to 3100 TWh in 2040.This explosion in demand fueled by population growth and economic growth, require production capacity of 700GW.While the current capacity of the continent is around 125GW.

Furthermore, the volumes transported should be multiplied by 6 or 8 in most countries.Doing so, passed the port traffic of 265 million tonnes in 2009 to 2,000,000,000 in 2040.

In the same vein, the growing population of the continent in the coming decades and accelerating urbanization accentuate its infrastructure needs in African cities.

• Reducing the deficit in african infrastructure

Delete this infrastructure deficit is a vital issue for Africa, but the cost will be high.The report of the UN Secretary General considers that over $ 52 billion of public and private investment will be needed annually to meet the backwardness of Africa in the field of infrastructure.According to the UN, this estimate includes an annual contribution of about $ 38 billion from donors, divided between the following areas:

• Energy- $ 20 billion
• Transport- $ 11 billion
• Assainissement- water and 5.7 billion
• Computers and Communications- $ 1 billion

The diagnostic study of national infrastructure in Africa cites a higher figure of about $ 75 billion per year distributed approximately equal share of the cost of opening new projects and the operation and maintenance of infrastructure.Approximately, one third of the existing infrastructure in Africa need to be repaired or renovate.And the proportion is even higher in rural areas and countries recovering from conflict.

The study estimates that this deterioration is a result of underinvestment in maintenance and over time represents a significant waste of resources.

The World Bank believes that management errors contribute to problem.The water distribution companies and African electricity collect only 70-90% of the amount of their bills.

Technical problems add to waste.For example, African distribution systems lose two times more current during transmission as more modern-loss systems that can annually reach 2% of GDP.The World Bank estimates that overall unpaid and wastage of water and electricity utilities cost annually $ 6 billion to African taxpayers who bear these losses.

-Frédéric Betta-Akwa