South Africas Energy Systems - Essay Example

How has Globalization shaped South Africa’s Energy Systems Introduction Globalization is a common phenomenonknown for its extensive impacts both positively and negatively in the global activities. The emergence of globalization affected different countries on different perspectives and a big change is visible in the emerging economies as well as the global south. In this regard, this report will critically look at globalization impact in South Africa’s energy systems. However, before analyzing the main objective of the report, the paper will first bring out a vivid understanding of globalization by reviewing its history, and vast definitions portrayed by numerous scholars. History Though no consensus exists in the emergence of globalization, many historians, and social scientists have come up with different views of globalization history (Lule, 2012:22). Nevertheless, the majority of these scholars agree that globalization emerged during the first movement of people out of Africa into other parts of the world (Young and Kent, 2013:443). This is the case because the immigration caused interaction, exchange, and adaptation of customs, ideas, and products. The term globalization emerged in the 1960s, but it first appeared in the Merriam website dictionary in 1944.The term later became popular in the 1990s and the first article containing globalization content became published in 1983. Definition A general definition that befits globalization is that it is a process, which encompasses several aspects like route, origin, and outcomes of both intercultural and international combinations involving human and non-human activities. However, there still lies a heated debate on the real definition of globalization. Diverse authors’ argue that globalization cannot undergo definitions; neither can it be encompassed within a set period simply because it is not a single concept. This means that globalization involves and encompasses vast aspects like economic incorporation, transmission of knowledge, inter-border transfer of policies, cultural stability, and discourse of power among many others. Therefore, globalization covers a multitude of disciplines, cultures and communities, which allows a range of viewpoints. This has resulted to various definitions from vast scholars who base their interpretation on the background of different disciplines. For instance, peter dicken argues on the economic perspective by claiming that globalization is an intricate and advanced form of internationalization that fosters a level of functional incorporation between internationally dispersed economic activities (Anderson, 2000:6-7). Other authors chip in and argue on cultural basis where he suggests that globalization is another image that influences cultural forms and patterns as well as drawing attention to the union of cultural styles as western forms of consumption that spreads all over the globe. Additionally, Amin and Thrift 1997, add up political definition by arguing that globalization is essentially about changes in the way the world performs its governance (Hennis, 2005:14). Another definition emerges from sociology whereby Robertson 1992 claims that globalization is a process where the constraints of geography on cultural and social arrangements withdraw, and that it's also a process where people become increasingly aware that they are withdrawing or receding (Robertson, 1992:10). Nevertheless, in spite of the vast globalization definitions offered by different authors, globalization is inherently geographical in its scope and impacts because it the physical expansion of the geographical domain of the globe, which means that it is an increase in scale and volume of global flows. How Globalization shaped Energy Systems in South Africa South African energy overview Before analyzing the impact of globalization in South Africa’s energy system, it is crucial to review the country's energy system. South Africa is among the largest and most developed countries in Africa. It also has a well-developed energy production and supply infrastructure. The south Africa’s energy sector is not stable towards the economy because the country relies heavily on its large scale mining industry. The country also has minimal deposits of natural gas and uses its intense coal deposits to operate most of its energy needs, especially in the electricity sector. The country generally consumes 37% of the energy in the African continent; energy that is produced in the country as well as imported from large producers in West Africa and Middle East (Independent statistics & analysis, 2010:1). In addition, the country possesses an advanced synthetic fuel industry that produces diesel fuels and gasoline from coal and natural gas. These synthetic fuels accounts for nearly all of South Africa’s domestically produced petroleum (Lesage, Graaf, and Westphal, 2010:114). Oil dominates 19%, while 10% belongs to solid biomass and waste. More so, the country has small shares of nuclear, natural gas and hydroelectricity. Current energy development claims that South Africa has shale gas resources, and the government has invited international companies like the Royal Dutch Shell to explore the gas (Independent statistics & analysis, 2010:1). This will definitely shift the country’s reliance on coal that is high carbon intensive. A graph showing coal consumption in South Africa Though South Africa has, and is still discovering numerous minerals that contribute to its energy system, coal is still a dominant energy in due to its abundant inexpensiveness, whereby the country manages to meet 70% of its energy needs through coal mining and 28% of the coal is exported (Brown, 2002:668). Prior to coal, natural gas also contributors to 7% of total liquid supply. Hydro energy is limited in South Africa due to scarce rainfall. Concerning electricity, 2004 statistics claim that 230,000 GWh of electricity was generated from different sources where Eskom generated 96%, 3.2% by private power produces, and 0.8 % by municipal power producers (Energy Department of South Africa, 2012:1). In addition, the generated power had different disaggration sources where 92.1% was coal fired, 5.8 % was nuclear power, and 0.8% was from hydroelectric generation. The country has three main energy demand sectors that account for 79% of total energy consumption. These sectors are residential sectors, industrial sector, and transportation sector. How Globalization shaped Energy Systems in South Africa Globalization has affected vast aspects globally because it has led to innovation, improved communication, and faster access to technology. More so, globalization brought people of diverse cultures together as well as ushering a new era in economic prosperity as well opening vast channels of development. Africa was not left behind in globalization because various sectors depict the impact of globalization. Among the African countries, South Africa has most developed and its progress basis its contribution from globalization (Mandela and Whyte, 1995: chapter 6). South Africa re-joined the scene of the global economy in the 1990’s when globalization started gaining prominence. During this time, the country adjusted to the demands of the globalization forces by coping with its status as an emerging market (Scha?fer, 2011:141). Globalization brought forth implemented policies that allowed finance, liberalization of investment, and trade. To begin with, financial globalization is the major key to other developments because it protects a nation from Shock; it enhances efficient global allocation of resources as well as improving the international standard of living (Veit, 2007:2). In cases of developing countries like South Africa, globalization has set policies that allow the rich countries to lend their money through “aid”. This depicts that developing countries can improve different infrastructure and technology, which in turn boosts development (Cox, 2012:141). In this regard, the “aid” from rich countries has helped South Africa improve vast projects that include the energy systems. For instance, the Royal Dutch Shell is currently in South Africa aiding in shale gas extraction. On another note, globalization has enhanced global energy supplies because statistics claim that almost 3 billion people in the world have no access to electricity; hence, meaning that globalization improves the living standard as well as energy supply through improved infrastructure (Mandela and Whyte, 1995: chapter 6). In this case, South Africa’s energy system has improved significantly because, energy resources like electricity is currently being supplied countrywide with an aim of reaching all citizens (Tekere, 2012:243). This is an ongoing project because the government is embracing globalization by implementing ways of supplying energy into its interior locations with an aim of reaching its development goals of electrification. This means that rural electrification will bring forth vast developments because first, the forests will be safe from exploitation in search of firewood. Secondly, education standards will improve significantly because children will be able to do their evening studies. To add up, electrification will promote green economy through environmental protection for the citizens can now use clean, shunning the unhealthy energy resources like wood and stoves (Mandela and Whyte, 1995: chapter 6). More so, the security will improve because most of the streets will have light, and many other benefits will come along. Generally this depicts that globalization has shaped the energy systems by improving peoples’ lives and enhancing development. On the other hand, the growth of world energy demand is increasing by the day. Statistics claim that the demand is growing at a tremendous rate that by 2030 total energy supplies because e percentage of demand will have risen by 40%. This means that South Africa as an energy producer will have to increase its production in order to meet its exportation, given that it exports coal. The rising demand of energy will affect South Africa both economically and environmentally in a manner that rising demands will call for overproduction, which in turn affects the environment due to overexploitation of resources. On the other hand, rising global demand will means rising demand for the work force, especially in the coal industries (Alexandroff, and Cooper, 2010:155). The eventuality of rising demands for energy raises exports that in turn boost the economy through revenue. Therefore, globalization leads to high demands of energy resources that in turn improve the economy of the producing country as well as deteriorating its green economy (Tambourgi et al, 2009:171). On another perspective, globalization brings in development of technology and infrastructure to South Africa; hence, the demand for energy in South Africa itself will rise (Mandela and Whyte, 1995: chapter 6). The outcomes will lead to the energy sector overproducing energy to meet its peoples’ growing demand that6 currently stands at 37% and will double up by the year 2030. In addition, globalization brought in energy regulation policies that advocate for clean energy in every energy producing country. This pushed South Africa to innovate its energy production systems by establishing carbon free nuclear power plants, quitting the reliance on fossil fuels (Bhattacharya, 2011:305). The establishment of carbon free nuclear plants is increasing by the day, which means that South Africa will not only meet its people’s energy demand, but also provides safer energy. On another note, globalizations fostered inter-border relations through vast enacted policies and agreements that not only grants developed countries to “aid” the developing countries financially but also technically (Homann, Koslowski and Luetge, 2007:160) (Young and Kent, 2013:443). This is a positive step to South Africa, who is still discovering other resources of its energy, especially its recent discovery of shale gas through the help of Royal Dutch Shell (Crowley, 2013:1). Conclusion Though globalization has diverse meanings and definitions, its impacts depict its literal meaning because it shortly means how countries and individuals in the world interrelate with a major objective of development (Global Policy Forum, 2013:1). In spite of the negative effects globalization has, its positivity surpasses the negative effects. This is so because it boosts international relations through trade, improves economy and peoples’ living standard through technology and infrastructure, as well as creating a healthier and a better world for everyone. In our case study, South Africa rates among the global south countries, which means that it is still developing. The country’s adoption of globalization in the 90s portrayed significant steps in terms of development in all sectors. The analysis of its energy sector also portrays improvements despite that part of development is still underway. Therefore, it is upon the South African government and concerned stakeholders to fulfill its vision. Bibliography Alexandroff, A. S., and Cooper, A. F. Rising states, rising institutions challenges for global governance. Waterloo, Ont, Centre for International Governance Innovation. 2010. Print. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=536942. Anderson, P. J., Wiessala, G., and Williams, C. New Europe in transition. London [u.a.], Continuum.2000. Print. Available at, http://www.energy.gov.za/files/electricity_frame.html. Accessed on 14, November 2013 Bhattacharya, S. Globalization and a Shrunken World. AuthorHouse, 2011.Print Brown, C. E. World energy resources: International Geohydroscience and Energy Research Institute ; with 44 tables. 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