Enrique Cifres - Dr.Ing

Enrique Cifres - Dr.Ing

Foro sobre recursos hidráulicos y energía y desarrollo sostenible bajo las premisas de independencia profesional avalada por más de 30 años de dedicación exclusiva.

Water & Energy eXchange. Africa 2014

Dr. Enrique Cifres presented his contribution at WEX (Water and Energy Exchange) AFRICA 2014 in El Jadida, Morocco, on "Synergies and sustainable development in multipurpose hydropower projects".
 

Not only water and energy impact positively on food security.The positive impact of water infrastructures on health security was highlighted through the data provided by Norihisa Matsumoto (see below) on infant mortality rate downfall since public water services begun to be implemented.




African paradox was put on the table for discussion: 85% of food is impoted, just 3% of land is irrigated and Africa is the only region in whuch food production declined during last 20 years.
Coupling economically hydro-energy and food-water-health security challenges need to be considered if we want to promote fairer solutions.


As final remarks he stated:


I.       Delay in development of dams and hydropower in Africa can be understood as an opportunity to manage the integrating basin management to face present and future challenges taking advantages of lessons learnt from past mistakes, but also from the newest developments in terms of technical and environmental aspects to promote the most profitable and sustainable projects in benefit of African peoples and their social development.

II.      Africa is the continent where the percentage of transboundary waters are the highest. That means that planning and integrated river basin management (IRBM) need the most open attitude from all agents and stakeholders, and specially governments, in order to reach agreements based on serious planning processes based on solidarity and reciprocity.

III.     The integrated River Basin Management & Planning must consider sharing benefits and WIN-WIN policies as key point to reach really sustainable master plans.

IV.     New hydropower project must be considered as multi-purpose projects taking advantage of financing sources for energy to address other needs as irrigation, food security , flood control and drinking water supply when there are no other way to afford the needed investment to guaranty the welfare of African people.