
Powering an economy —
Pre-paid smart meters are being seen as the answer in African markets to chronic slow payment and energy theft. In emerging markets, collection problems lead to under-investment, more costly production and higher prices.

Powering an economy —
Power lines fan out across a street in Sierra Leone. The often chaotic nature of energy infrastructure in Africa and India makes energy theft easy.

Powering an economy —
An ad hoc collection of electricity meters are barnacled onto a power pole in India. While smart meters have been in use in the United States and Europe for more than a decade, in markets such as Africa they are set to encourage much-needed investment in the sector.

Powering an economy —
Workmen maintain energy infrastructure in India ahead of a holy festival near the Ganges. "The first major problem of energy in emerging markets is getting access to it in the first place, the second problem is that when there is access it gets stolen," says Alain Ballock.

Powering an economy —
A workman attends to a power line in India. Energy theft remains a powerful disincentive for new investment in the sector.