8. Policy issues 140. Africa's energy resources are consicerable. By January 1981, reserves were estimated at 55 billion barrels of oil, 88.5 billion tonnes of coal and 208 billion cubic metres of fas, while the exploitable hydroelectric potential totallec 1,630 billion kWh. A part from these reserves, there are gooc prospects in non- · conventional forms of energy like solar power which is already ,sed for water pumps in Sahelian countries. Mere efficient use of fuelwood and charcoal woulc also give large fains in enerey supply. Important oil discoveries occurred curing 1981 and 1982, some of which completely changed the energy prospects cf the ~ountries concerned. The Ivory Coast, fer eYample, will become self-sufficient in enerfy in the short term, anc may eventually become a net e~porter. Oil production in the United Republic of Cameroon will soon exceed 7 millicn tofines, fer a population of less than 9 million. The problems lie in the lack of capital and skilled manpower to harness the existing resources and develop new ones. Developinf African countries have a shortage cf such specialists as geologists, mining engineers anc petroleum en­ gineers who are of critical importance in the energy sector, anc suffer besices a general shortage of manaeers .Pnc entrepreneurs. In these circumstances they are obligee to call on foreign resources, and here the problem arises of sharine revenues from the energy sector with foreign capital. rf:cst African countries have nationalizec their oil resources, anc have insisted that foreign companies should operate in partnership with the govern-". ment, as well as specifying a minimum level of investment. Recently a system of "production sharinf" has been introC:ucec in some countries in order to accelerate prospecting: prospecting companies are allowec to amortize their expenciture rapidly in return for bearing the risks anc sharing the production with the 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the energy resources of Africa, including oil, coal, and hydroelectric potential, as well as the challenges in harnessing these resources due to a lack of capital and skilled manpower. The text also touches on the issue of sharing revenues from the energy sector with foreign capital. Based on this content, it appears that the text is more focused on the economic and environmental aspects of energy production.

**Category**
Economic development, Natural resources and environment