Experts call for electricity for all by 2030

Energy experts have recommended that African governments come up with a plan of action to bring African energy accessibility to 100 percent with a minimum of 250 kWh per person by 2030. The call was made during a regional workshop on scaling up mini-hydro development in Africa that drew participants from Rwanda, Chad, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Gabon, and development partners. The Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water, Eng. Coletha Ruhamya said the targets recommended by the experts were realistic based on Rwanda’s experience. “If we (Rwanda) can target 50 percent, from the current 14 percent, by 2017, why not 100 percent by 2030?” The experts recommended setting up of a Master Plan for Rural Energy Development by 2015 and demonstration projects for various models of investment, construction, operation and management; and establishing rural energy agencies. They recommended the formulation of legal and regulatory framework for rural energy delivery and the identification of the necessary regulations. In terms of capacity building, the meeting proposed that to ensure the transfer of knowledge, international contractors/sub-contractors should be linked with local companies. This is supposed to enable the transfer of knowledge to the local company, which will be responsible for the follow up of the renewable energy facilities after the end of the project. The workshop looked into financing mechanisms, especially fund mobilisation issues needed for adoption and the role of the international funding mechanisms such as the AfDB and the World Bank. Ends

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Experts call for electricity for all by 2030