Cheat sheet: Five reasons for high fuel imports per head

(i) Limited refining capacity: Many African countries lack sufficient processing infrastructure. So even if they produce oil, their fuel must be imported. 

(ii) Lack of investment in renewables: Green substitutes for fossil fuel require massive, long-term capital spend.

(iii) Subsidised consumer fuel: African governments are under political pressure to misprice fuel to help the poor.

(iv) Corruption & state capture: In some countries, powerful fuel cartels insist on sustaining dysfunctional policies for personal gain. 

(v) Progressive grid failure: Broken infrastructure requires ever more fuel to maintain the same level of electricity.