By Samuel Aruwan
The United States yesterday formally launched an innovative framework under President Obama’s Power Africa initiative to increase energy access for underserved populations across sub-Saharan Africa that will specifically cover Nigeria, Ethiopia and other countries.
The US Embassy stated yesterday in a statement that it was for an initial five-year period.
It said: “Will leverage partnerships with 27 investors and practitioners committing to invest over $1 billion into off-grid and small-scale solutions for this underserved market. These private sector commitments will help Power Africa meet and exceed its commitment to provide access to 20 million new connections for households and commercial entities, providing electricity to millions of households in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Off-grid and small scale energy solutions that generate electricity closer to end users will also bolster productive uses of energy and income generation. By partnering with investors, practitioners, and donors, Beyond the Grid will mobilise new resources, technologies, and expertise to address access to electricity issues in sub-Saharan Africa.”
Power Africa is the US government’s transaction-based development approach to increase access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative has already helped close almost 2,800 MW worth of transactions and had secured commitments for another 5,000 MW, representing almost 75 per cent of the initial goal of bringing an additional 10,000 MW of cleaner, more reliable energy to Power Africa’s six focus countries Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Tanzania, aside Nigeria and Ethiopia who are part of the scheme.
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