Comments on: Try $5.62 a Gallon

By: Omar

Omar — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 04:47:25 +0000

My main issue with Wade is that he has not been taking a proactive role in solving his country’s energy issues. Countries like India have been developing biofuel alternatives from tree crops like Jatropha which is well suited for the climate in Senegal. Also, the state owned electric utility has had laws passed banning large solar panels in a pathetic attempt to hold on to a monopoly. Funding a private solar industry in Dakar would be a better solution to merely subsidizing oil to power the oil burning generators in the country. Dakar has a huge population of wealthy Europeans, Chinese, and Lebanese that could sustain a private solar industry.

By: Chirol

Chirol — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:18:03 +0000

Colin: I agree that nobody should guarantee them cheap oil anymore than someone should do the same for us. The article, I believe, was rather about the impact of prices and how countries without the necessary infrastructure, trade and transport are hit even harder. And handouts aside, nobody can argue that high oil prices aren’t far more harmful to Africa than to the West.

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 18:07:48 +0000

I am simply not as moved as perhaps I should be. Wade has been hawking his “formula” in ads on the front page of the Financial Times for a couple months now (not complicated to figure out—basically the rest of the world should ensure Africans only have to pay $29/bbl). What really irks me is his repetitive plea that

the soaring price of oil in West African nations has made it all but impossible to proceed with antipoverty efforts

Because those “antipoverty” efforts were going so great back when oil was around $20/bbl? And cheap oil will suddenly make all the necessary economic reforms that have been neglected for decades suddenly kick into high gear?

It’s yet another African demand for a handout. Only this time the finger-pointing is ostensively at gas prices instead of “colonialism”, “neo-colonialism” or “multinational corporations” (although somehow all three of those are somewhat blamed once again).

By: Gollios

Gollios — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:37:26 +0000

I would guess the lack of delivery & distribution infrastructure, possibly refining as well. Sounds like a question for the new CIA factbook…

By: Consul-At-Arms

Consul-At-Arms — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:23:17 +0000

Why is gasoline over $5 per gallon in Senegal? Taxes?

By: Curzon

Curzon — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 04:25:59 +0000

That’s a hard-hitting perspective. And we should appreciate that Senegal is institutionally better prepared to handle the crisis than any other nation in the region.

Imagine how this is going to be in the future—the population of West Africa is expected to _double_ in the next 32 years. This is what Kaplan had in mind when he wrote Coming Anarchy…

By: Lex

Lex — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 02:38:40 +0000

Same thing happened during the ‘73 oil embargo. No one talks about it. We had cars lined up at the gas pump. Poor people in Africa DIED —in large numbers.

Bottom line, sub-Saharan Africa is a taker not a maker of history. Other people decide and act, for reasons unrelated to them, they have no say in the decisions or the actions, yet they suffer the consequences.

Very sad.