form two

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

Manufacturing industry refers to the industry which involves processing and changing the materials in order to make new products of greater value to man. Manufacturing industries are also referred to as secondary industries

Significance/Importance of manufacturing industry

l It provides employment

 To the fast growing population in the world especially in the tropical countries

l Diversification of the economy Industries lead to diversification of the economy of the country and reduce the reliance on one type of product

l Earning of foreign currency.  It contributes to earning of foreign currency in a country for example Japan earns a lot of foreign currency because of exporting the manufactured products.

l It leads to self sufficiency. This means that the country reduces its reliance on imported goods hence its economy becomes stable

l Development of transport and communication.It stimulates the development of transport and communication like roads railway lines, ports etc

l It reduces expenses on imports

l It encourages improvement of social services

TYPES OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

Manufacturing industries are divided into processing and fabrication industries.

a) Processing industries are the ones which deal with preparing the raw materials for fabrication. For example coffee pulping, decorator and cashew nuts hullers.

b) Fabricating industries are the ones that deal with making new products from the processed materials for example textile industry.

Manufacturing industries can also be classified as

i. Heavy industries. Heavy industries are industries which involve the production of bulky and heavy products like iron and steel industry, car assembling and shipping etc

ii. Light industries; are those which involve the production of light and complex products for example the manufacture of plastics, textiles, cosmetics and paper

Factors influencing the location of industries

These are several factors which combine to influence the location of industries these include:

l Raw material availability
Some industries are located near to the source of raw materials . Example most of the processing industries and food manufacturing industries are located near to the farms or productive areas.

l Fuel and power availability. Some industries are located where there are sources of fuel and power for example coal deposits in United Kingdom and china have led to the location of iron and steel industries in coal fields.

l Human resources. This is connected to the labour supply both skilled and unskilled. Also determine the location of industries. for example electronics industry are located in the areas where there is skilled labour also industries which need high labor like cement industries are located in areas with dense population

l Availability of capital

This is needed for the investment in the machinery and importation of raw materials

l Market availability.

Also encourages the development of industries in certain countries, where the market is poor and the industrial development also becomes poor.

l Availability of transport and communication systems. Some industries are located near the transport system like railway lines because of being bulky

l  Government policies, are the documents that announces the perception of government on the particular issues.

Government policies play a great role in the location of industries. The government can encourage the location of a certain industry in a certain place for the sake of balancing the economic development of a certain area and provision of jobs

l Government stability, Is the ability of government in maintenance of peace of a particular place.

This can encourage the development of industries in a certain country due to peace and harmony. People feel safe in investing in that country unlike where there are political problems like wars

l Industrial inertia and historical factors

Industrial inertia is the tendency of old industries to remain in the same area without shifting to the new area.
Despite of unfavourable conditions these industries continue being in the same area because of the well established transport system and assured supply of labor as well as social services supply

Effects of the manufacturing industries on the environment

The effects caused by industries can either be positive or negative, positive effects involve the use of virgin land which was once useless and the negative effects on the environment include;

l Land degradation because of clearing the forests to establish the industry and extraction of raw materials from the land

l Environmental pollution includes air pollution which caused by the introduction of green houses gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Water pollution caused by introduction of hot water and chemicals from the industries, soil pollution and noise pollution.

Types of pollutants

a. Gaseous pollutants

Are the pollutants which occur in gaseous form.
These include green house gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide etc which pollute the air.

These pollutants on polluting the air lead to the formation of acidic rainfall and global warming. Acid rainfall leads to the addition of acid in the soil which in turn causes the death of plants and micro organisms as well as destruction of buildings by removing the paint on the walls.

b. Particulate dust matter and other solid matter

Are the pollutants which occur in particle or solid which emirates from the industries get into the air or water bodies or soil and cause contamination. These can lead to the increase in acid or toxicity in places where they can be dumped

c. Liquid matters.

These includes all forms of molten or semi molten materials (liquid). These involve hot water and chemicals from industries. Hot water leads to thermal pollution of water bodies which can kill the aquatic animals/organisms because of the sharp rise in temperature

General effects of industrial pollutants on the health of an individual employee and communities living around

l Water pollutants cause disease like

Ø Cancer

Ø Typhoid

Ø And diarrhea

l Air pollution can lead to respiratory diseases like bronchitis to employees and people around.

l Soil pollution can cause decline in a agricultural production and hence lead to starvation to take place

l People are also affected by noise and sometimes can lead to problems in the blood circulation. For example Blood pressure and heart attack.

Ways of reducing pollutants

l The industries should be located far away from the residential areas.

l Recycling the wastes for example the metal materials should be recycled so as to produce other materials.

l The combustion system in the engines should be filled with efficient facilities so that the amount of green house can be reduced if not solved totally.

l To avoid noise pollution the parts of the engine should be lubricated and materials used should be like bronze which does not make noise.

l There should be concerted efforts by the government and non governmental organizations and some committed individuals in certain environmental pollution.

l There should be strong policies governing the industrial operations and ensuring that people who invest in industrial operations /development are given proper education on how to handle the waste products properly i.e. recycling

l The industrial wastes should be treated to render them harmless to the health of people.

l Alternative energy sources which are environmentally friendly like solar energy, natural gas, wind power etc.

l There should be other activities  developed so as to avoid over dependency on manufacturing industries only especially in Japan etc.

CASE STUDY

A. SHIP BUILDING IN JAPAN

Ship building in Japan expanded fast after the Second World War

The main reasons for that expansion have been outlined below;

· Japan’s enormous increase in external trade which led to the increase in demand of merchant ships.

· Japan’s large engineering industry has stimulated the development of ship building.

· Absence of old established ship building industry made it easy to introduce modernization. Normally old industries tend to create problems in introducing new technology.

· A large skilled labour force

· Technology is well advanced and efficient hence has stimulated the fast development of the industry.

· Strong determination to become successful in industrial and trade activities in Japan.

· Introduction of prefabricated ship building.

· The development of fishing industry in Japan and worldwide has stimulated the development of the ship building industry.

· Forestry industry in Japan has also contributed a lot since the forest materials are used as one of the components in ship building.

· Ready market worldwide especially in rich countries.

· The government policy has supported the industrial development of the shipping industry  in Japan.

· Reliable supply of power like HEP power and nuclear energy.

· The need to import raw materials has stimulated the development of the Ship building industry. This is because the country lacks raw materials so it imports most of its raw materials and the ship building industry could help in cutting down some coasts of transport.

PROBLEMS OF THE SHIP BUILDING INDUSTRY 

l Frequent earth quakes threaten the industry because the country lies within the weak zone of the earth’s crust

l Stiff challenge from the other countries like China and South Korea which are also developing their own shipping industries. This reduces the market

l The industry also faces opposition from the environmentalists and is believed to be one of their sources of pollution in the world. Coastal areas have been polluted and this affects people and animals

Location of the shipping industries

Most of Japanese ship yards are located along the coast these include:

· Kobe

· Osaka

·  Chiba

· Yokohama

·  Kawasaki

· Tokyo

· And Hiroshima

CARS AND AIR CRAFT INDUSTRIES

These are basically assembly industries. Assembly industries are those that put together various components or parts manufactured by other industries

B. CAR ASSEMBLY IN USA

The motor cars and Lorries are now produced in the USA on assembly line. Assembly needs considerable engineering Skills. USA is the largest producer of road vehicles and the industry is located along the shores of the great lakes in regions such as Detroit, Cleveland and buffalo. Another important center is Los Angeles in California.

Early modern car manufacturing in the USA begun in the early 1900 and half of the world cars are produced at Detroit and the southern shores of the great lakes.

Car assembly needs a large area of flat land and there must be good communication with the other industries which supply component parts. The large units of the car are chassis or frame, engine, body, wheels, springs and column.

Materials needed for manufacturing the car parts are

· Iron and steel for making the body and engine frame

· Lather and cloth for making the seat covers

·  Rubber for making the tyres

· Electric wire coverings

· Glass for windows and the wind screen

· Lead for the accumulator etc

Factors that have influenced production of cars in the USA

l The use of advanced technology in the making of the car components.

l Availability of labor used in the car assembly and high industrial and agricultural production which need car transport for ferrying the goods produced

l Also availability of iron and steel for making the car parts, capital availability for the cars produced in the USA, the USA has the market both within the country and out of the country

l The influence of the government policy that has been encouraging heavy industrialization in order to obtain advanced economic development. Good road network has also encouraged the manufacturing of cars.

Challenges facing the car industry in the USA

· Car industry in the USA is facing a great challenge from other countries like Japan contributing at Tokyo and Yokohama. German centering on Nuremberg, Dusseldorf and the Stuttgart. UK  centering on Coventry, Birmingham, Derby, oxford and Dagenham

· Terrorism has been threatening the country, keeping people uncomfortable. Much of the financial resources are directed to the fight against terrorism

· Environmentalists also discourage the manufacture of many cars  

C. AIR CRAFT IN RUSSIA

Aircraft cannot be mass-produced.

They are like ship buildings which have to be built very much by individual schedules. The Airplanes are usually assembled in the areas where road vehicles are made.

But the Russian aircraft industry is highly challenged by the USA which is the largest producer in the world with industries near Los Angeles at Seattle (on the pacific coast)

Advantages of the car and aircraft industries

l Have stimulated the development of international trade

l Transport has become efficient with planes urgent problems can be attended to.

l Have stimulated the spread of technology and information. The world has become a global village.

l It has strengthen unity among the different countries in the world.

Car and air craft industries have greatly contributed to the following problems:

l Air pollution because of the introduction of gases in the atmosphere

l Acceleration of accidents in the air and on the road claiming the lives of the people

l Drug trafficking from country to country

l Spread of diseases like AIDS due to the global contacts among the people

l Acceleration of terrorism and civil wars in many parts of the world. The weapons are transported from one continent or country to another

l Acceleration of climate change due to the destruction of ozone layer caused by smoke produced by cars and airplanes.

D. HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES IN GERMANY

Germany is one of the world’s leading countries after the USA in terms of production of heavy duty vehicles. The heavy duty vehicles are the ones that carry heavy goods (bulky) or do heavy works like earth moving. Examples of heavy duty vehicles include;-

i. Transport vehicles such as containers carries [trucks]

ii. Earth moving machines like bulldozers, caterpillars, drilling vehicles, tractors used for ploughing etc.

Factors that have influenced the development of the heavy duty vehicles in Germany

l Availability of raw materials  like iron and steel from the Ruhir region

l Availability of energy especially from coal mined in the Ruhir region

l Hard working attitude of the people in Germany has contributed to the fast development of this industry

l Good transport and communication network has stimulated the manufacturing of heavy duty vehicles. Germany is having well advanced high ways.

l Advanced science and technology among the people of Germany because of high education

l Availability of market both in the country and outside the country due to the good quality of goods

l Availability of enough capital which enable them to implement their objectives.

Problems that Germany has been facing in this industry

l Tariffs [taxes] charged to the industry tend to be high

l The WWII which was under the influence of Hitler caused deceleration of the industry.

l Other countries wanted Germany to limit its industrial sector because it became a threat to them.

l Germany is currently facing challenges from other countries that are producing the same goods like Japan and the USA

l Exhaustion of some raw materials like coal and iron is another problem.

Positive effects of heavy duty vehicles

l They facilitate road construction in the country for example they are being used in Tanzania for road construction such as the Morogoro road.

l They help in the distribution of goods and services in the country.

l They also promote the development of industries in the country since they facilitate the supply of raw materials.

l They create employment opportunities for the people in the country like drivers or operators.

l It has contributed greatly to the development of International trade.

Problems caused by heavy duty vehicles

l The heavy trucks that carry bulky and heavy goods contribute to the destruction of the roads especially where the roads are of low quality like the largest part of Tanzania

l They cause delays on the way during road construction

l They accelerate the rate of accidents on the way as some other vehicles happen to slam into them when no signs are put on the road during the road construction.

E. ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT PRODUCTION IN SOUTH KOREA

South Korea is among the newly industrialized countries whose economy has been growing very fast due to heavy investment in the industrial development. Other NICs are:

· Taiwan

· Hong Kong

· And Singapore etc

The economies of these countries are referred to as Tiger economies because they have been growing very fast.

Electronic equipment production industry is classified as high technology industry since it produces light articles like

· Television

· Electronic watches

· Desk tops

· Calculators

· Radios

 -  Sophisticated materials like

· Microphones

· Magnetic disks

· Computer terminals

· Software etc

In South Korea the major center for electronic production is around Tango in the south where there are more than 150 electronic factories.

Factors for the development of electronic equipment production in south Korea

l Labor supply in the initial stages of industrial development have been reliable and people are hard working and efficient

l High technology because of the advanced education among the people

l The industry is flexible [foot loose] in location. It can be located in a small space like the city center it does not need a large area.

l Ready market for the articles produced in South Korea since they are of high quality and of the current demand in the world.

l There has been strong government support on the industrial development

l Agricultural development supports this industry especially in creating capital for investment

l Efficient transport system in the country

Advantages of the electronic industry in South Korea

l It has led to the creation of employment to the population of the country

l It has stimulated fast information flow especially through the internet services which use computers

l The use of computers has stimulated efficiency and accuracy in processing bulky data in the different enterprise or companies etc. Hectic/laborious work has been avoided through automatic use of machines. In some areas there is a use of robots which can work more than a human being

l The economy of the country has risen fast as a result of exporting electronic facilities

l It has stimulated the growth of other industries like heavy industries

l The export trade has expanded leading to the increased international relation between South Korea and other countries

l It has contributed to the diversification of the economy of the country

Problems of the electronic industry

l The spread of viruses in the computers leads to error in data processing.

l It does not have high market in the developing countries where technology is very low and many people do not know how to use electronic facilities.

l It has led to the rapid growth of urban population due to the rural-urban migration. This has led to the rise of squatters and congestion as well as the decline of rural areas.

l It has contributed to the retrenchment of employees (trimming down employees) since few computers can do most of the work more  efficiently than human beings for example The use of robots in the ship building and car assembly.

l There has been worldwide competition especially from America in the manufacturing of electronic devices.

l They are expensive.

F. IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY IN TANZANIA

Among the East African countries Tanzania has a brighter future as far as iron and steel industry is concerned. The bright future is due to the following factors;

l High deposit of iron. About 500 million tons of iron deposits have discovered to exist in Liganga area

l There are large deposits of power resources

l The existence of high demand for construction materials like iron bars

l The existence of the present steel rolling industry in Tanga has led to the inspiration for establishing iron and steel rolling industry

l There also exist other sources of power like HEP especially at Stiegleis Gorge. These will provide power for the iron and steel industry

l The need of cutting down costs which incurred in the importing the iron from other countries

Advantages expected from the iron and steel industry in Tanzania

l It will create employment opportunities for the populations especially in the southern parts of Tanzania

l It will lead to the local supply of steel material to steel rolling industry in Tanga

l This will cut down costs of importing steel from other countries and hence it will save a lot of government revenue that could be used in  importing steel

l It will facilitate the construction sector such that stronger buildings and bridges will be set up.

l It will also facilitate the development of transport and communication within the country

l Agriculture will also improve since farm implements will be produced in a greater quantity and will be cheaper compared to the imported iron and steel materials

Factors limiting the development of iron and steel industry in Tanzania

l Lack of capital since Tanzania’s economy is very low

l Low technology among many Tanzanians This has led to the existence of poor skilled manpower.

l There are poor transport and communication systems such that the transportation of iron and steel materials will be problematic.

l Shortage of internal market is another hindering factor delaying the development of iron and steel industry in Tanzania.

l Traditionally Tanzania has poor industrial base since it has been depending on agriculture as its economic back bone [economic mainstay].

l Lack of Government support.

Factors that hinder the development of the manufacturing industries in East Africa

l Low levels of science and technology

l Low levels of capital to be invested in the industries

l People are so migratory [they keep moving from place to place and hence they cannot concentrate on production ]

l Civil wars also hinder industrial development in Tanzania and East Africa in general

l Low government support on industrial development

l Poor availability of raw materials

l Poor transport and communication Hence the transportation of manufactured goods and raw materials is very costly.

l Poor labor supply to the industrial places.

l Limited or poor marketing system.

l Limited mineral sources and sources of energy.

Ways of improving the industrial base in East Africa

l There should be improvement in transport and communication system.

l There should be improvement in science and technology so as to facilitate industrial growth.

l The government should formulate policies which support industrial development in the country.

l The local resources should be explored and exploited for industrial use.

l There should be control of population growth so that the capital can be invested in industrial development rather than supporting the rapid growth of population rather than wasting time moving from one place to another.

l Competition should be encouraged among the Industrial producers.

l The development of Internal and external trade should be encouraged.

SUSTAINABLE USE OF POWER AND ENERGY RESOURCES

Energy

Is defined as the power required to carry out an activity. Energy is one of the most important of the entire world’s resource. To be able to do work one needs energy or power.

Power
Is the rate of doing work. It is equivalent to the amount of energy per unit time. We can therefore say that energy produces power and power is then used to carry out activity.

Energy uses

l Is used in the running of machines in industrial, agricultural and transport sectors.

l Energy is used in cooking, warming the bodies, lighting etc

l It is used in facilitating photosynthesis in plants

A. MAJOR SOURCES OF POWER.

Energy resources are classified as renewable and non renewable resources

Non renewable energy resources

Are also known as exhaustible resources.These are resources which once used up cannot be replaced. Examples are

·  Coal

· Petroleum

· Natural gas

· Fuel wood

· And nuclear resources

Renewable energy or power resources

Are the resources which can be replaced after being used up.They are inexhaustible and hence sustainable. Examples are

· Hydro electric power

· Tidal energy

· Solar energy

· Wind

· Geothermal power

· And bio-gas/biomass

Inexhaustible energy resources are resources that can never be finished through use. Examples of inexhaustible energy resources are

·  Solar energy

·  And wind energy

Human beings cannot exhaust or deplete these resources

B. METHODS OF EXTRACTING POWER AND ENERGY.

i. Non renewable energy source

1. Coal

Is a black or brown rock which consists mainly of carbon

It supplies energy after being burnt

 It is used in different ways in the world

The countries in which coal is mined include

-      USA

-      China

-      Russia

-      Zimbabwe

-      South Africa

-      Nigeria

It is used for generating electricity, heating, cooking and producing gas, cosmetics, adhesive, fertilizers, dyes, perfumes and synthetic fibers

Advantages

l It has promoted the industrial development of the iron and steel industry

l It leads to the creation of employment opportunities

l It has stimulated the development of transport through manufacturing of locomotives and ships.

l It has facilitated the domestic activities like cooking, warming etc

l It is used in producing other energy sources like oil and gas. South Africa is using coal to produce oil

Disadvantages

l It is non-renewable resource. Once exhausted cannot be replaced.

l It leads to air pollution by emitting carbon dioxide, which leads to global warming, Sulfur dioxide which leads to acidic rain.

l Mining of coal leads to the destruction of the landscape or land degradation.

l It is heavy and bulky causing problems in transport

l It uses a lot of capital in exploitation leading to the decline of other sectors.

l The oil spills are dangerous to eco-system

l It leads to accidents due to fire outbreaks and explosions

The demand for coal has been declining due to the following reasons;

l It has low calorific value

l It is dirty

l  Higher costs of production due to the reopening of mines

l  Transport problems since it is bulky and heavy

l Competition from other energy sources which are more efficient and environmentally friendly

2. Oil

It is also a non renewable source and was found underground from decaying plants and animals. Main producers include;-

-      Middle east

-      USA

-      Russia

-      Mexico

-      China

-      UK

It is used for;

·  generating electricity

· Fuel energy

· Producing petroleum gas

· Cooking

· Making fertilizers

· Medicine and plastics

3. Natural gas

It is a non renewable resource

It is formed underground from decaying animal and plant material. The main producers are;

-      USA

-      Canada

-      Russia

-      Mexico

-      Venezuela

-      Algeria

-      And china

Tanzania has discovered the natural gas deposits at Songosongo. 

It is used for cooking, heating and production of electricity

Advantages of natural gas

l It is efficient

l It is clean-least polluting of the fossil fuels

l It is easy to transport

Disadvantages

l It explodes  easily leading to destruction and death

l It causes some air pollution

l It is exhaustible [non renewable source of energy]

l Oil coal and gas are referred to as thermal energy sources

4. Nuclear energy

It is a non-renewable source

It is produced as a result of the reaction of the nuclei of the radioactive metals like uranium. The countries that have developed nuclear power stations are Britain with about 35 power stations, the USA about 80 power stations, France with about 36 plants, the former USSR with about 43 plants, Japan with about 28 plants others are;

-      Germany

-      Canada

-      Sweden

-      Belgium etc

Coal is used in producing heat for electricity and in making nuclear bombs

Advantages of nuclear energy

l It is clean and produces fewer green house gases.

l It is efficient in terms of use.

l It is economical since it uses very small amounts of raw materials and produces little amount of waste.

Disadvantages

l  Radiation produced is dangerous like the Chernobyl leakage in Russia which led to different problems like cancer etc.

l Building the nuclear plant is very expensive.

l There are problems of disposal of wastes since the wastes are radioactive.

l It has accelerated the rate of terrorism in the world which involves bombing of important places like the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

5. Fuel wood

Is a non renewable fossil fuel

Trees provide it

The main producers are the low economically developed countries [ LDC]in Africa and Asia

Fuel wood can be converted to charcoal by heating the fire wood under limited supply of oxygen.

It is used for cooking and heating

Advantages

l It is easily available

l It is not expensive and largely obtained freely from the forest

l Replacement is possible by planting new trees

Disadvantages

l It is not efficient and hence time consuming

l The collection of the fuel wood leads to deforestation which in turn causes other problems like soil erosion and desertification

l It is non renewable since replanting cannot keep pace with its consumption

l It contributes to the environmental pollution

The use of fuel wood in Tanzania

People in Tanzania will continue using the wood for many years to come this is due to the following reasons;

l poverty

l Expenses associated with other sources

l Other sources are unreliable in supply

l Lack of strict policies to control the use of fuel wood

l  High population growth

l Some people in some tribes believe that good food can be cooked using fuel wood since other sources can lead to bad taste according to their belief

l Poor knowledge and skills in using other sources of energy among most of people especially in rural areas

l Poor or lack of awareness of the impacts of continued use of fuel wood on the environment

The ways that Tanzania can use to reduce the use or avoid use of fuel wood

There are various ways Tanzania can use to reduce or avoid the use of fuel wood these include:

l Encouraging the use of other alternatives energy sources like solar Energy, hydro electric power, natural gas and kerosene. The prices of these sources should be very low in order that the majority of Tanzanians can afford them.

l Educating the local people on the economical use of energy sources or resources such as the use of modern stoves that use very small amount of fuel wood

l People should be encouraged to plant as many trees as possible in order to counteract the problems of wood crisis

l Formulating policies that restrict excessive fire wood extraction

l Encouraging the control of population since this also creates more demand for energy

ii.  Renewable resources

1. Hydro electric power

It needs good regular supply of water to drive the turbine. The countries producing are;

-      Canada

-      Norway

-      Tanzania

-      Russia

-      Brazil

-      China etc

It is used in the production of electricity, lighting and heating.

Advantages

l It is very clean and environmentally friendly

l The reservoirs/ dams can help in the control of floods and provision of water in terms of shortage

l It is often located in remote mountainous areas where population is low

l It stimulates the industrial development. South Korea have benefited a lot from the electric power

l It has led to the improvement in the communication system like internet services, radios, TVs and satellites that depend on electricity

Disadvantages

l The construction of dams leads to the flooding of large areas and people’s displacement like the Akasombo dam in Ghana.  

l Lack of rainfall and silting of the dams easily affect it

l The pylons which are constructed can lead to visual pollution

l The dams also lead to the outbreak of diseases

Some of the hydro electric power generation schemes in Africa can be identified. Others are;

· Kidatu

· Mtera

· Stiegler’s Gorge and

· Kihansi in Tanzania

· Orange river Project

· Nkula falls in Malawi etc

2. Tidal power source

It is a renewable source. The power is produced when the tidal water along the coast drives the turbines 
             

The main producers are;-

·   France

·   USSR

·   China

·   Canada

The tidal energy is used in producing electricity

Advantages

l t is clean and hence does not pollute the environment

l The barrages built for tidal energy production help in protecting the coast from erosion

l If the scheme is large a lot of electricity is produced

l The supply of the tidal power can encourage the development of the fishing and tourism industry

Disadvantages

l Tidal power centers are expensive to construct

l There are few suitable sites in the world and the location should be along the coast  hence  the areas far away from the coast can be disadvantaged

l It can lead to the destruction of the coastal areas and disruption of the shipping system

3. SOLAR ENERGY

It is a renewable energy from the sun

It is used for direct heating, drying clothes and crops as well as production of electricity.Potential areas are the tropical areas where there is abundant supply of sunshine

· Examples of the areas are;

-      USA

-      India

 Kenya at Kibwezi and Ikutha Health centers in Machakos and Kitui districts and some parts of Tanzania

Advantages of solar energy

l It can be used in many parts of the world

l The supply is limited (renewable energy)

l It is non pollutant (it’s clean and efficient)

l It is easy to install in new buildings

l Solar energy can lead to the development of tourism in the country where there is plenty of sunshine. For example in east Africa many visitors from Europe come to enjoy the plentiful supply of sunshine when it is winter back in their countries

l Solar energy provides vitamin D in the bodies which is good development of strong bones. Deficiency of vitamin D in the body can cause rickets in human beings

l  Solar energy facilitates rainfall formation through evaporation of water from the surface of the earth

Disadvantages of solar energy

l It is expensive to install and hence needs high capital for buying some equipment. 

l When it is cloudy or at night the supply of sunshine stops and hence leads to the problem of energy supply

l It is unlikely to produce large amounts of energy compared to HEP 

4. WIND ENERGY

It is the energy produced by moving air mass

Wind is a renewable source of energy since it does not get exhausted

Wind energy can be used in generating electricity and pumping of water from the deeper levels in the ground

It is also important in the pollination of the flowers distributing rainfall by blowing the clouds regulating temperature and accelerating evaporation. Areas where wind energy is used are

-     Denmark

-     California

-    UK where there are many forms of wind.

In Tanzania there are several turbines which have been installed in Singida and Dodoma for pumping water from the ground.

The group of turbines installed at a certain place is referred to as wind farm

Advantages of wind energy

l It is a very clean type of energy

l It is naturally non pollutant in air

l It is cheap to harness or run

l Small scale and large scale schemes are possible

l It is used in producing electricity

l This is done through driving the turbines

Disadvantages of the energy

l Winds are unpredictable and not constant. When the wind stops the energy production also stops

l It leads to the visual pollution and noise pollution in areas which are quiet

l Many turbines are needed to produce a lot of energy and hence these involve a lot of costs

5. GEOTHERMAL POWER

It is also a renewable source of energy

It is the heat energy generated from the interior of the earth.

It is generated through volcanic eruption like geysers and hot springs

Examples of areas with geothermal power are;

-      Kenya

-      Japan

-      Russia

-      New Zealand

Advantages of geothermal power

l 1It is used for generating electricity and direct heating

l There are many potential areas especially where there are many volcanoes

l It attracts tourists and hence aids in the earning of foreign exchange

l It encourages the development of communication network like internet service which need electric power to operate

l  In cold areas geothermal power is used for heating and warming the residential areas in winter

Disadvantages of geothermal power

l  A lot of water from the ground can introduce sulfuric gases in the atmosphere when loosely tapped. This can later cause acidic rainfall

l  Geo thermal plants are expensive to develop

l Very high temperatures can create maintenance problems since some metallic parts can melt

l Geo thermal power stations are developed in areas which are weak like the rift valley areas with volcanic eruptions. These eruptions can interfere with the supply of energy if the construction has been poor

Factors limiting the development of geothermal power in Tanzania

l  Poor or low capital available for being invested in the installation of geothermal plants.

l The presence of other sources of energy which are currently supplying power like HEP, fuel wood, wind, oil etc.

l Low rate of exploration of potential areas going on currently is another limiting factor. The researchers are costly.

l Low market in the country since the country is still poor and its people in rural areas have low economic abilities.

l Low ability in affording charges for supply.

l There is low level of technology among many people of the country.

THE IMPORTANCE AND USES OF POWER AND ENERGY.

Power and energy resources are important in the following ways;-

· Industry
Power and energy resources are used to produce energy and power, which is then used to run machines, provide light, provide electricity and provide heat for processes like welding. This leads to industrial development which is critical to the development of economics.

· Agriculture
Power and energy are used to run heavy farm machinery such as those used to plough or harvest crops. Most of these run on diesel which is a petroleum product, this promotes the development of agriculture.

· Transportation

  Motorcycles and vehicles, aeroplanes, trains and ships all need fuel to provide energy and power for them to work. This in turn promotes the    movement of people and goods from one place to another.

· Mining 
The machines for mining and lighting inside and outside mines and other activities associated with mining, need power and energy.

- Also energy and power resources have the following direct economic and social importance like

Ø source of employment,

Ø source of foreign exchange ,

Ø source of government revenue,

Ø improvement of transport and communication infrastructure

Ø  promotion of trade and other industries.

PROBLEMS FACING POWER AND ENERGY PRODUCTION

l Changing climatic conditions; Occurrence of droughts and the general reduction in rainfall may lead to a fall in water levels at waterfalls and dams at hydroelectric power stations.

l Lack of capital; This problem mainly affects developing countries. It is very expensive to set up energy and power generating facilities.  

l Lack of varied energy resources in individual countries; Some countries have limited sources of energy. Geothermal steam and uranium, for example are not common in many countries.

l Poor technology and lack of skilled personnel; Most of the power and energy exploitation technology used in developing countries is very old and therefore less efficient and also less productive.

l Environmental pollution; Energy and power has been blamed for polluting the environment. This has happened through spillages on land as well as through explosions in nuclear reactors.

Ways to address the problems power and energy production

l Regular dredging (removal of slit) to ensure that the dam capacity is not reduced by the accumulation of silt. 

l Countries should diversity their energy production to reduce the effects of such factors as petroleum prices and climate.

l Developing countries should ensure that they keep up with technological advancements to ensure that their energy production is efficient and highly productive.

l Research should be carried out often in order to improve energy and power production methods as well as come up with new production methods. Research will also help in finding power and energy production methods that cause less environmental pollution.

l Establishment of Colleges, University and other higher learning institutions to train professionals in the energy and power production field.

l Countries should partner to raise adequate capital to fund the setting up of power and energy production facilities.

CASE STUDIES.

1. Solar and Wind power in the USA

The USA is technologically advanced country with a wealthy economy. It is developed country with great demand for power and energy for its industries and its large population.

Solar power accounts for a very small percentage of total energy production in the USA. It is mainly exploited in the sunny areas of the country. These include California and Nevada.
The government and other bodies such as the American solar energy society continue to encourage and promote investment in solar energy.

Wind power is more used compared to solar power in the USA. Wind power is used to generate about 0.7% of the total electricity production in the country. Texas is currently the largest wind power producer in the country followed by California. Wind power is tapped by use of wind mills.

The importance of solar and wind power in the USA 

l Source of employment.

l Industrial development

l Agricultural.

l Conservation of non- renewable energy resources.

l Reduced environmental pollution.

Problems facing solar and wind power in the USA

l The harnessing of solar and wind power is highly dependent on the prevailing weather conditions.  

l People are still reluctant to change from the traditional energy sources such as hydropower. 

l The cost of equipment used in tapping solar and wind power on a large scale is quite high. This has led to limited investment.

2. Biogas

It is a renewable energy

It is derived from the decay of plants and animals [including human] water matter.

The gases produced as a result of fermentation or decay of these wastes includes ethanol and methane gases. Bio gas is used for:

-Heating

-ighting

-And generating electricity

The main producers are

-     Brazil

-     Japan

-     China

-     Germany

-     Denmark

-     India

-     Tanzania

-     And Kenya

Advantages of Bio gas

l It is cheaply produced and widely used

l It is affordable in developing countries

l It needs intermediate technology [not advanced technology]

l It can be used at a local level

l It helps in waste management since the wastes are recycled hence pollution controlled

l The remains from digested  can be used in the farms to encourage crop production

l It improves the living standards of the people since they get energy which is cheap

l The gas can be exported to other countries and bring in foreign currency

Disadvantages of Bio gas

l It needs high care in handling otherwise it can cause destruction after burning because of careless handling

l People have to ensure a large and regular supply of suitable waste material which is cumbersome

l It can be expensive to set up. Buying the digested requires a lot of capital

l Emission of methane gas leads to Air pollution

l Other wastes used as fertilizers can cause water pollution and spread of disease

BIO GAS IN TANZANIA

What factors have influenced the development of Bio gas in Tanzania?

l The need to cut down the costs on the other source of energy

l To avoid over dependence on fuel wood as the source of energy in rural areas 

l Abundant supply of plants and animal wastes

l The need to raise the standard of life in rural areas

l The government assistance through the ministry of water, energy and minerals as well as the assistance of Khadi and village industries commission of India and the input made by missionaries i.e. in Mwanza at kwimba, Tabora and Morogoro at Lutheran junior seminary.

Major constraints against the wide spread of bio gas energy in Tanzania

l Shortage of building materials for digesters.

l Problem of transportation of building materials and raw materials for digesters.

l Cost of digesters tends to be high thus most of local people cannot afford getting them.

l People’s rigidity in accepting new technology because of being using fuel wood traditionally most people have low levels of technology.

l Siltation; This reduces the volume of water in the dams, thus reducing the capacity of electricity generation.

Solutions to problems facing power production
Some of the solutions to the problems discussed before include the following;-

l Frequent dredging of reservoirs to avoid siltation.

l Development of other sources of power

l Establish training institution to provide skilled personnel to work in power generation plants.

l Liberalization of power generation might lead to greater availability of funds for development of biogas and hydroelectrical power production.

l Aggressive marketing by the government and other concerned Organization will help to encourage people to adopt the production and use of biogas.

Lessons to be drawn by Tanzania from the USA.

l Diversity - Tanzania should diversity her energy sources to reduce the negative impact of reduced production from one source.

l The government should form departments to encourage the development of alternative sources  of energy such as solar power and wind power.

l The government should support the development of various energy sources. It can do this by negotiation for funds as well as formulating and implementing policies that support this endeavour.

 

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

A. TRANSPORT.

The meaning of the concept

Transport means the movement of goods people and services from one place to another. Transport is an important aid to economic activities like trade, agriculture, lumbering, Fishing, Industry etc.

Types of transport

There are three main forms of transport which are;

·  Land transport

·  Air transport

·  Water transport

1. LAND TRANSPORT

Land transport refers to the movement of goods and people from one place to another on land surface. The major means of transport on land are;-

·  Human transport

·  Animal transport

·   Road transport

·   Railway transport

·   Pipe line

Human portage 
Refers to the transportation of people, goods and services by using human muscle power in the form of walking or running.

It’s the most common type of transport used by the majority of the people in various parts of the world.

This is because most of the parts of the world are remote, severely lacking capital and skills to put in place modern methods of transport.

ADVANTAGES OF HUMAN TRANSPORT

l Human transport is available; It is a means of transport that is readily available whenever it is needed.

l It can be used when the other forms of transport cannot be used for example in mountainous areas.

l It is cheap; It is very affordable means of transport which can be used anywhere by anybody.

l It is safe; It is safer than road, air or water transport because few accidents occur during transportation.

l It is flexible; Human transport can be used to transport goods to various places in towns and rural areas.

l Human transport doesn't pollute the environment. It cause little or no noise, emits no smoke spills.

DISADVANTAGES OF HUMAN TRANSPORTATION

l compared  to other means of transport, it is slow.

l Human transportation cannot be used to carry heavy and bulky goods.

l Human transportation depends on a person remaining physical strong and healthy. When person gets sick he or she cannot carry it out.

l It can be affected by weather conditions especially during the rainy condition.

Animal transport

Refers to the use of working animals for the movement of people, goods and services.
It is the form of transport which involves the use of animals and is not well developed in many parts of the world.

It is commonly used in those areas which are wild and hostile so that other means of transport are hard or difficult to be used

The animals commonly used include

·   Camels

·  Donkeys

·  Horses

·  Cattle

·  Dogs etc

Animals can be used for riding as well as carrying or pulling loads. These animals which are involved in this type of transport are referred to as drought animals.

Advantages of animal transport

l Animals are quicker than human beings.

l They carry heavier and larger loads than human beings.

l Animals are capable of being used in adverse [hard or hostile] conditions like deserts and water logged regions.

l It is relatively cheap and more developmental than human beings.

Disadvantages of animal transport

l It is defenseless since it can be affected by attack like robbery.

l It is extremely slow compared to road transport.

l It cab be affected by weather condition especially rain condition.

Road transport
Refers to the identifiable rout, way or path used to transport goods, people and services.Road transport involves the use of

· Vehicles

· Bicycles

· Motor vehicles and so on

It is well developed in the various parts of the world, the best example of well developed road network is in Germany.

In Africa it is south Africa which has the best road net work in the eastern part of the country due to mining, industrial development and agriculture.

In Tanzania and East Africa at large road transport is the most important and it will continue to play a vital role in the economic development of the country/ countries.

Advantages of road transport

l Road transport is flexible. It can be constructed in many places and can serve even individual homesteads.

l Road transport offers a variety of transport facilities giving a customer a wider choice of the type of facility to use for example the facilities can be the trucks, taxes, buses etc.

l It is faster and cheaper at shorter distances.

l It is suitable for delivering perishable  goods  for shorter distances i.e. vegetables, milk, fruits and so on.

l Road transport is easy to construct and run compared to railway transport or air means.

l Vehicles that run on the road do not need to run on time schedule like trains and planes but schedule can be involved at minimal extent with buses.

l Act as the source of employment opportunities for instance drivers and operators.

Disadvantages of road transport

l It handles a specific and limited amount of goods.

l Usually heavy loaded lorries are too slow to cover up the expected distance.

l It is too risky especially for delicate goods. This can cause breakage or destruction of goods like computers and glass materials causing a great loss.

l Weather conditions tend to disrupt the road transport especially during the rainy season.

l It is highly susceptible to attacks of high way robbers on the way.

l Road transport has led to  the increased road accidents leading to loss of lives of many people.

l Road transport is usually congested because of traffic jam in the urban areas, may end up being expensive for different users.

l Transport facilities have contributed to air and water pollution in the world.

l Construction of roads encourages land degradation.

l It is expensive to be constructed since it needs more capital.

The nature of roads in Africa

l Most of the roads are not tarmacked and are not all weather roads. They are passable during the dry season and impassable in the wet season due to slippery caused by rainfall.

l They are not evenly distributed. The dense network is in the areas which are economically potential e.g. mining areas, towns due to the market, industrial areas or political influence like administrative head quarters or capital cities.

l Most roads were built during the colonial period and the local government have added few.

l They connect different nations and regions but inter connection between the local areas is poor.

l Most of them are located in urban areas.

Rail way transport

This involves the carrying of goods and passengers by train. Today rail way transport has become an important means of transport for bulky goods.

This has been as a result of rapid industrial development in the various parts of the world where bulky raw materials and finished products have to be transported for long distances.

Rail way transport has also become an important means of transport in the Western Europe due to traffic congestion of various vehicles which slow down greatly people’s movements

Advantages of railway transport

l it is suitable and relatively cheaper for transporting bulky commodities or goods over long distances.

l It is less affected by unpredictable weather conditions if it is well constructed.

l Once the railway has been constructed its operating costs are very low and the freight charges are usually lower over long distances than those charged by the roads for most commodities.

l More loads and a greater number of people can be transported at a single journey compared with road transport and air transport systems.

l It has created employment opportunities to many people like drivers and operators.

Disadvantages of railway transport

l The railways are expensive to build. A lot of money is required to lay down lines and all other facilities for example stations, warehouses etc.

l It is not flexible like road transport.Only areas with railway lines are the ones which are served also door to door services cannot be done by the railway transport.

l It is not suitable for commodities which are perishable like milk and vegetables which are urgently needed like medicine, news papers etc.

l Railway transport is not mostly efficient and time serving. Especially in the third world countries train services are too slow and backward.

l Because of strictly adhering to time schedule sometimes it may cause inconvenience and delays.

l  Rail way transport is a bit costly in terms of equipment, rail setting and train purchasing and maintenance.

l The gauges of a railway line vary from place to place

In some places the gauges range from 1.5-1.7 meters while others are as narrow as one meter. Many parts of Africa have narrow gauges.

The characteristics of railway transport in Africa

l The rail way lines are running parallel to each other with little or no interconnection within local areas

l Most of them are running from the areas with economic importance to the coastal areas for export. For example Ghana has a railway line running from Sekondi to the Tarkwa gold mining area , sierra Leone has a railway line which runs from Free town to Pendembo which was mainly to serve the oil palm growing areas , Liberia has a railway line which was built to serve the iron-ore mining area in the interior.

l The railway lines are unevenly distributed

Pipe lines

Refers to the movement of goods, people and services through a pipe mostly common liquid and gases.
Pipelines constitute another form of transport system which has grown an importance since the formation of the customs union in Euro pipelines carry liquids especially oil.

In Tanzania TAZAMA is an example of a pipeline which runs from Dar es Salaam oil refinery [tipper] to Ndola in Zambia which is 1700 km. In Kenya the pipeline managed by Kenya pipeline Company extends from oil refinery near Mombasa to Nairobi covering a distance of 450km

Advantages

l It involves low unit costs and easy to maintain and there is lack of physical barriers

l It has high ability to cover long distances also where volume and market demand are sufficiently great and steady. Pipelines are more economical than other forms of transportation

l There is low rate of risk unlike tankers and it is very reliable

Disadvantages

l The pipelines are inflexible since they are built in certain places only. Therefore door to door services are hard

l They have fixed carrying capacities which cannot be exceeded

l Because of traversing (passing) the wild areas, low care is given and hence people can destroy them easily. Construction and installation are costly and time consuming.

l It cannot be used to transport solid goods and this limits its usefulness.

l It cannot be effective and efficient in areas which are mountainous. To lay down the pipelines becomes difficult and when there is leakage soil pollution occurs through oil spills.

l It is expensive to be constructed.

Factors limiting the construction of pipe lines in Africa

l Low or lack of capital to invest in the construction of pipelines.  

l Poor cooperation between or among countries in Africa.

l Political instability in different countries which leads to outbreak of conflicts and hence civil wars  

l Lack of reliable deposits especially in Tanzania and other east African countries.

l Low technology among Africans

Economic importance of the pipelines in east Africa

l They have stimulated industrial development because of stimulating the supply of fuel oil in the countries

l They have stimulated the development of trade between the countries sharing the pipelines. For example Tanzania has established a strong relationship with Zambia because of sharing TAZAMA pipeline.

The living standard of the people in these countries has improved due to fuel supply. Pipelines have cut down the costs of

2. Water transport

Refers to the transportation of goods, people and services using water based vehicles such as boat.
Considering the geographical location of continents, water transport is the most convenient means of handling the movement of goods between continents.

This type of transport has been used from the earliest times, this type of transport can be divided into two sub divisions that are

·  Inland water transport

·   Ocean transport

Inland water transport involves the use of;

·  Lakes

·  Rivers

·  And canals

The facilities that are involved in water transport are

· Ships

·  Boats

· Canoes etc

Advantages of water transport

l Water transport is cheap since there is no cost of constructing a water ways unlike the railways and roads

l Water navigation facilities such as ports, tugs and lighthouses do not need frequent repair and maintenance

l It carries heavy and bulky goods over a long distance. Usually little time is wasted on the traffic control unlike in other forms of transport

l It is suitable for the transportation of fragile or breakable goods e.g. glass, since there will be very limited shaking and jolting on the water ways

Disadvantages of water transport

l Perishable or urgently required goods such as news papers cannot be transported through this means to the final consumer

l If there is use of water canals, they are greatly affected by the season. This increases maintenance costs

l Water transport system cannot be constructed any where it is specific in areas with water bodies while roads and railways can be put anywhere.

l There is a problem of strong storms and winds which greatly interfere with the shipping schedule

l These are dangerous animals like crocodiles and hippopotamus which affect the lives of the people

l transportation

3. AIR TRANSPORT

Refers to the movement of goods, people and services from one place to another through air. It involve the use of aircraft such as helicopters, aeroplanes and hot air balloons.
Air transport is the latest and fastest means of transport in most countries. It is usually confined to urgent cases. The first successful air flight was made by the American Wright brothers in 1903.Great development has taken place since then. Aeroplanes were developed for military purposes during the First World War. But nowadays they are used for transporting passengers and goods.

Advantages of air transport

l It is the fastest means of transport, therefore it’s useful for urgent cases and transportation of perishable goods

l It leads to low risk of damage since there is no rough movement and goods don’t stay long in transit.

l It is free of physical barrier [sea, mountain etc] and hence it is free to go in any direction

l It is comfortable and less tiresome especially where one is required to travel great distances. Operations of air transport are on schedule and this ensures no time wasting

l Planes play a major role in providing relief in major disaster areas where other forms of transport are absent or unable to reach

l Air transport has facilitated tourism in different parts of the world like Western USA

l It can be used in carrying out political activities like campaigns in remote areas

Short comings of air transport

l It can’t transport bulky or heavy goods or poorly packed goods. Dangerous commodities such as those    which are likely to cause fire e.g. petrol, paraffin etc are transported using air means.

l Usually weather conditions like fog or mist greatly interfere with the schedule compared to other means of transport.

l Construction of air field [airports] are usually expensive.

l Usually considerable time is wasted in air traffic control over the air field e.g.  checking, booking etc

l During accidents there is very little chance of survival

l It faces problems of hijacking like what happened in the USA on September 11 where the world trade center in the new York and the pentagon building in Washington DC were dangerously destroyed leading to the loss of many people’s lives.

l The airports are normally built far from towns therefore time is lost in taking goods to the airport

l It contributes to the air pollution as a result of the burning of fuel and emission of greenhouse gases

l There is limited freedom of air since many nations claim all the air space over their territory foreign planes cannot use their space without their permission. To obtain flying rights is often a long and expensive battle

The problems facing the development of air transport in East Africa

l  There are few air fields

l Establishing air ports is very expensive

l  Low capital availability

l Lack of market since many people are poor and hence they cannot afford this type of transport.

l There are no local industries for producing planes.

l Absence of advanced security in East African countries.

B. COMMUNICATION

Is the exchange of information or messages between people, It can also be defined as the process of passing on information from one part to another part. Transport and communication are so related since through transportation information can move from one place to another place. This means that transportation facilitates communication.

Channels of communication

Communication has several channels which are oral, written and visual as follows;

Oral communication

Is the method through which people contact one another through telephone, radio, face to face conversation, and records messages.

Written communication

Involves the transmission of information in written form like

· Letters

· Parcels

· Post cards

· Telegrams

· E-mails

· Telex

· And fax

Visual communication

Includes passing information through

·   Charts

· Photographs

·  Films

· And graphs

Sometimes these channels can be in combined form e.g.  

· Oral and visual form

· Audio visual communication

The role/significance of communication

l It has led to the spread or diffusion of ideas and information on various aspects of a human society.

l It has lessened the isolation of remote places especially telecommunication and radios.

l It has enhanced the ability to warn of disasters and to organize relief or rescue more rapidly.

l It has greatly assisted in the promotion of trade by allowing shipping firms to direct their vessels.

l Radio and televisions have become important in the entertainment aspect.

l Communication helps in spreading education and promotion of technology.

l It has a big role to play in the political matters all over the world. leaders use different means of communication to speak to their  people and mobilize them for the general human and economic development.

l It has been used in enhancing gender equality through education and reducing violence against women in the societies. communication is used in encouraging people on the necessity of facing different challenges.

l It has created employment opportunities to many people.

Disadvantages of communication

l It can lead to disunity or conflicts among people especially when negative information or reports on people are passed from one place to another

l Distortion and fallacies always affect it.

l It is costly especially telephone such that few people in the country like Tanzania can afford.

l The services are supplied unevenly. Some places are better served due to their economic importance than other places.2

Factors affecting transport and communication

These can be sub divided into physical, political and human factors

Physical factors

i.  Relief

Distance and relief features affect the cost and possibility of building the line of communication. Where the land is flat transport and communication develop easily and involves low costs

l Earth movements [earth quakes, faulting and Volcanism]

Lead to the difficulties in developing transport and communication systems. These movements can also destroy the existing transport systems.

l Climate

It also determines the development of transport and communication. The areas which experience heavy rains like the Congo forest area and the Amazon lead to poor transport development

ii. Political factors

Political factors influence the development of transport and communication in the country. The government can therefore decide on the development of transport and communication system in their respective countries.

iii. Economic factors

Development of transport and communication system takes place fast where there is enough capital, but lack of capital leads to poor development of transport and communication in the country. Also areas which have resources attract the development of transport and communication while the areas which are not having enough resources experience poor development of transport and communication.

Importance of transport and communication

l They encourage the development of industries, through the supply of raw materials and transportation of manufactured goods to the markets or consumers.

l They create employment in the country. For example some people are employed as drivers, station masters etc.

l They facilitate the spread of technology in the country and enhances the accessibility of places.

l They lead to the promotion of trade in the world.

l Transport and communication encourages the development of tourism in the country.

l It can make goods available where they are demanded.

l It facilitates mass production by enhancing the supply of raw materials, movement of goods to the market and necessary equipment for production.

l Transport and communication are factors which improve trade relations within economic units.

l It leads to the intensification of unity among the nations.

l It is a source of foreign money exchange.
    

Negative effects of transport and communication

l Transport leads to accidents especially in the roads, water and air.

l The emergence and introduction of crimes, due to to the use of mobile phones.

l Transport and communication facilitate terrorism in the world

l Also the construction leads to the destruction of people’s properties and displacements of people for the sake of laying the transportation and communication lines across a certain area.

l The emergence of death and depopulation due to the emergence of road accidents.

Problems facing transport and communication in Africa

l Low capital for investing in the development of transport and communication system

l Remoteness is another problem. Such areas which are so remote such that they are not accessible easily.

l Political conflicts lead to the destruction of the transport and communication lines. They can also limit the construction of communication lines.

l Climatic factors; Like heavy rain falls leading to floods affect the development of transport and communication.

l Land locked leads to high costs since land locked countries have to pass through other countries when exporting or importing their goods.

l Restriction involved in gathering information from the societies  leads to poor communication  among the people in the country.

l Transport and communication facilities are costly. Hence some people cannot afford the costs

l The variation in language between different places is another problem.This leads to poor understanding between the people concerned.

l Cost of repairing of the old facilities and the transport and communication lines are high.

l Other problems include

Physical features like mountains with steep slopes and swamps which limit the construction of the infrastructure and movement of transport facilities