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Off-grid power in São Tomé and Príncipe

The smallest and most remote islands discovered and developed by Portugal. Sao Tome although an independent country and member of the African UNion retains close relations with Portugal and many tourists who visit Cape Verde also visit the spectacular Sao Tome. The main business partner remains Portugal who provide 51% of imports. Angola, another historically Portuguese territory provides another 20%.

The islands are in the middle of the Gulf of Guinea about 300 kms from the mainland so the climate is tropical and humid. The islands are of volcanic origin typical of other islands in the Atlantic. The famous volcanic plug ‘Pico Cao Grande’ is 663 m high and popular with tourists.The islands total 1,000 km2 and Sao Tome is the main island with most of the 200,000 population – Principe has only 8,000 people. The main city, also called Sao Tome is of course on the main island and has 43,000 people compared with only 2,700 in St Antoines the main town on Principe,

The islands were discovered by the Portuguese in 1470 with the first Portuguese migrants in the 1490’s. A large interracial population devloped over the years and the islands were also a slave economy. The islands were major producers of sugar with more than 6 sugar mills on Sao Tome, but competition from the Caribbean and Brazil led to a decline and adoption of new crops principally cocoa and copra. Unusually for Africa even when the country became independent in 1975, 90% of the land was owned by plantations.

With only 200,000 people Sao Tome and Principe is the second smallest (after Seychelles)nation in Africa. Sao Tome measures 50x30kms and has 193,380 people while Principe has just 8,420 and measures 30×4 kms. There are also two islets between the two main islands called Tinhosa Pequena and Tinhosa Grande. The population is 98% fluent in Portuguese

The climate is hot and humid with a year round median temperature of 27 Deg C. and high year round and rainfall ranging from 5,000 mm on the ocean side  to 1,000 mm on the leeward side of the islands

GDP is $685m with a per capita of 3,220 considerably less than comparable Portuguese islands in the Atlantic. Agriculture with its rich loamy soils remains important with cocoa beans accounting for 50% of exports plus smaller quantities of copra and and coffee.. The main export destination is the Netherlands whereas most imports (more than 50%) are from Portugal and Angola 20%.

However there are two new sources of revenue – tourism and mineral oil.

Sao Tome and Principe are fast becoming a new tourist destination often as a joint destination with Cape Verde. The year round tropical weather, sandy beaches, old world hotels and bars and 6 hour flight from Lisbon make it an attractive destination. 

The export of mineral oil is(or will be when exploited) a new industry dating from the late nineties. After a long dispute with Nigeria the two countries finally agreed that oil deposits in part of the Niger delta known as the Joint Development Zone (JDZ) would be developed jointly on the basis of 60%-40% in favour of Nigeria. The JDZ was divided into 9 blocks and the prospecting fees from the oil companies amounted to $123 million with a 40%share for Sao Tome.

The economy is growing about 5% per annum with lots of positives including low mortality rates, 100% child attendance at school, piped water and electricity for everyone and low infant mortality. But indebtedness is high and Sao Tome has had to apply for debt cancellation.

Electricity and Utilities São Tomé and Príncipe

Electricity and water are provided by the state owned Empresa de Agua e Electricides (EMAE). EMAE generates 66,000 mWhrs of power per year of which 91% (60,000) is from fossil fuels and 9% (6,000 hrs) is from a small hydro plant. Consumption is 61,380 mWhrs.

EMAE is massively insolvent because of the need for imported fuel.on which the country spends $2 million per month. The plant is old and poorly maintained. Of the 91% only 58% is available at any one time and so there are frequent power cuts.

UNDP is promoting an expansion of renewable energy to reduce the fossil fuel dependency. As of 2019 UNDP was looking for consultants for a 2 mW solar farm and 1.65 mW of new hydro. There is an immediate potential for a 3 small hydro plants which is would produce 365,000 mWhrs over 5 years and save 874,000 tonnes of CO2.emissions.

Sao Tome is an ideal location for solar energy, Offgridinstaller can supply and fit any size of solar system with high quality lithium ion battery storage which can generate and power year round storage. The systems can be fitted in existing buildings or in stand alone 20 foot containers. Container systems are ideal for warehouses, hotels, restaurants and resort developments. Offgridinstaller can also add micro and macro networks to connect a multiple of buildings with a continuous electrical supply including plantations and processing facilities.

Given the expanding tourist industry solar would be an ideal source for hotels and other tourist facilities with solar containers and smaller solar kits. Ideal also for the small island of Principe which should migrate to 100%  renewable energy.

Offgridinstaller is a British company with experience in Britain and the Mediterranean but which can also be transferred to the Gulf of Guinea.

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