Executive summary

Abstract

Energy consumption in Africa and Latin America has grown at a rate greater than the total energy consumption worldwide since 1980, consuming nearly 10% of the total global energy and ~20% of global renewable energy, largely biomass. Other significant sources of renewables include hydropower and geothermal. Both regions have diverse energy resources distributed non-uniformly between nations. Coal, oil and natural gas production is restricted to a few nations but is often used for electricity production across several countries. Natural gas reserves are prolific in parts of both regions and are likely to contribute to expanded electricity production in future decades particularly if investments in energy infrastructure occur as suggested.