Energy Policy Memo for Madagascar

Dear Global Leaders,

Hello! My name is Alex Blumenthal and I am a member of the Honors Energy and Sustainability
Class at North Carolina School of Science and Math. Madagascar has potential to be sustainable
in its consumption and usage of energy but is currently not using its resources to their full
potential. Currently, Madagascar is consuming 1.587 billion kWh of energy yearly (CIA World
Factbook). Below you can find the energy mix of Madagascar as of 2015.

Unfortunately with this energy mix, only 15% of the country has access to energy. This dampers
its economic and social development.It is For the future, I would like for Madagascar to be
largely based on hydroelectric power as well as solar power. All regions of Madagascar have
access to sun for at least 2,800 hours per year. By utilizing this abundant energy source, the
country would be able to become more sustainable and allow for economic growth. The goal
would be for the country to decrease its use on Thermal energy to 20% and have an even split of
hydroelectric power and Solar power. This would change the energy mix to 20% thermal energy,
40% hydropower, and 40% solar energy.

Changes to the current energy sources would be the increase in energy availability as well as
revitalizing current hydroelectric plants. “Infrastructure is outdated, and existing generation,
transmission, and distribution facilities are insufficient to satisfy growing
demand” (waterpowermagazine.com). These plants are integral to the use of water as a power
source so because of this, they must not only improve existing structures but also make them
used more across the country.
To accomplish this goal, Madagascar would have to look to external organizations for funding.
This idea is actually very relevant as the World Bank granted $65 million in financial support
through the Electricity Sector Operations and Governance Improvement Project (ESOGIP). “The
objective: increase production capacity and reduce energy loss, while helping the Government
improve governance of the sector and JIRAMA’s operational performance. The ESOGIP also
aims to expedite progress on renewable energies in order to provide a reliable, more affordable
alternative to expensive and environmentally unfriendly diesel generators.” I think that this is an
amazing plan to help boost the use of renewable energy sources in Madagascar. But this
international support can be aided by the changes to the government so that they can support the
public and private sector in their energy endeavors. Such examples of these plans could be
setting up partnerships with growing businesses that aid them economically when they invest in
the use of sustainable energy. An example. of economic aid could be tax breaks for the
businesses.

I think that adoption on the individual level would be critical in the success of such plan. If more
people had access to the energy, economic prosperity would ensure as it allows for effective
transportation, advanced agriculture, and better building structures. To encourage people to adopt
this change, the country would create a national initiative in which the positive effects of
adopting renewable energy are shown. Economic growth is imperative to access to energy. With
a wider adoption of energy, people would have better clothing, better living conditions and an
overall better life. I think that these promise of a better future would prompt people to make a
change to not only begin to use energy but also use it efficiently.

Thank you for your consideration. 


 Works Cited

“Energy Sector.” GETinvest, https://www.get-invest.eu/market-information/madagascar/energy

sector/.

“Madagascar Counts on Hydro and Solar Energy to Expand Electrification.” Madagascar Counts
on Hydro and Solar Energy to Expand Electrification | News | John W Ffooks & Co,
https://www.jwflegal.com/news/madagascar-counts-on-hydro-and-solar-energy-to-
expand-electrification/.

“Mapping Hydropower Potential in Madagascar.” Www.waterpowermagazine.com, https://

www.waterpowermagazine.com/features/featuremapping-hydropower-potential-in-
madagascar-4672629/.

“The Force of the Sun: Madagascar Embarks on Renewable Energy Production.” World Bank,
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/10/10/the-force-of-the-sun-
madagascar-embarks-on-renewable-energy-production.