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 Energy system in Somalia has collapsed in the early 1991, when the former government of Siyad Barre was toppled the country, especially in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia’s troubled nation. Somali entrepreneurs established privately owned power supply companies, which provide insufficient energy to the daily consumers with the highest rates for more than a decade.
The power providers try at least to satisfy the public demand, given that the number of power consumers declined for the last couple of months due to the continued unrest in some parts of Mogadishu, where the ethopian troops and the Jehist led insurgency have been combating that led an estimated 1 million civilians flee their homes according the UNCHR report.
Somali Energy Company is one of the biggest power supply companies in Mogadishu, a recently founded coalition of united small power companies serving for more than five neighborhoods in Mogadishu with two station offices in the capital.
"We managed to cover the needs of the people, because people can not make a living without energy." Mr. Abdirizak Mohammed Halane, the Manager of Somali Energy Company, said. "But, we have problems with the fighting in Mogadishu." he said.
There is high unemployment in Mogadishu, provided that the company has employed more than 400 workers, according to Mr. Halane, who the company manager, who receive minimum salary of $100/month each.
The private companies, established the anarchic era, do not have the facility to feed power consumers enough, as the country’s basic infrastructure has gone with the choas, but little bit hailed by the Somalis, especially in Mogadishu.
There are other power companies besides Somali Energy. Somali Electric covers parts of Hodan, Wardhigley including Bakaro Market.
The power lines around the Market were cut off by recent street clashes between the Ethiopian backed Somali police and the Insurgents that led fresh exodus of people from their homes, their business and property resulted failure to the company’s bergaining, according to the one of the senior administrators who hid his name for security reasons.
However, 1KWT fluctuate between $1 or $1.5 American dollars respectively depending on the oil prices. But it is too high price reflecting the consumers who are partially effected choas in their daily life and are unable to go work for security reasons and can not afford to pay the said price, despite many people have left their homes due to insecurity.
Halima Ali Abdulle, 45 year old housewife with four children, is one of the Somali Energy consumers and says, "The electricity is too expensive, but it is better than nothing." Halima expresses her concern about the high prices on the electricity which the power the companies explained it in return the fuel price going up every day, although the feul is exported from the UAE.
She uses for the electricity for TV, charging materials but not ironing, air conditioner and refrigators, avoiding the charge of the KWTs per month charged. " I pay 10 upto 15 dollars per month, although costly high, but I favour for my kids not to go out." She said.
Tough challenges are ahead for the Transitional Federal government in restoring Somalia’s power system as privately owned companies are trying to replace. A country with no powerful central government in more than 16 years. The power lines were looted or not existing at the moment.
Somalia’s energy system was in charge for the National Power Supply Agency, under the ministry of the Interior Affairs at the former military government, that ruled the country for 21 years, almost seventeen years ago, but that the system collapsed due to the unrest of the country, since the country has not received edequate power supply.
A Transitional Federal government was formed in Nairobi with the United Nation backing, but so far its energy ministry has not done anything with the country’s power system. The former power energy stations are today emptied, just like starting from zero.
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