The Afar Triangle: a Future Gulf Region for World Geothermal Energy?

Abstract

The highest amount of energy dissipated by the earth system is located along the mid oceanic ridges system. There are only two places on the planet earth where these spreading axes occur above sea level: Afar and Iceland.

The double fossil fuel crisis (resources limitation for oil and climate change induced by greenhouse gas emissions) obliges the humanity to develop alternative renewable energy sources when available. Globa1isation of the economy will facilitate the development of energy intensive economic activity at any site where renewable energy sources will be available at a competitive price. Especially jf such sites are located near to the sea (shipment facilities).

Like in Iceland, many sites in the Afar region (found in Ethiopia, Eritrea & Djibouti) display favourable conditions for geothermal energy development:
- shallow energy sources due to thin lithosphere, anomalous shallow hot mantle and superficial magma chambers;
- fractured aquifers due to tectonically active zones where several faulting systems occur;
- Hydrothermal reservoir developed thanks to favourable alterations sequences (wet minerals in the cover, dry minerals in the geothermal aquifer.

In addition to scientific and technological knowledge, to be developed by transfer of knowhow, the major need is for education of local population in order to allow them to benefit from economic development and take part to this huge challenge.