World Bank-backed project targets electricity access for 300 million in Africa
Leaders from across Africa have pledged $35 billion to expand electricity access, focusing on solar minigrids and power grid upgrades to reach half of the continent's 600 million people lacking electrification by 2030.
Max Bearak reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- The World Bank and African Development Bank will provide loans at below-market rates, with half the funding dedicated to solar minigrids for rural communities.
- Tanzania’s struggles with regulatory issues and subsidized government-run utilities highlight challenges for private energy providers like Husk Power Systems.
- Falling solar costs and regulatory reforms could accelerate energy expansion, but political instability and economic risks remain obstacles.
Key quote:
“When we got electricity, it was like we were normal people suddenly.”
— Mwajuma Mohamed, a resident of a community where around 200 houses and businesses briefly got power from a Husk solar minigrid
Why this matters:
Access to electricity remains a persistent challenge for more than 600 million people across Africa, and it ripples through every aspect of daily life. Without reliable power, schools struggle to provide adequate resources for students, healthcare facilities cannot store life-saving vaccines or operate essential equipment and economic growth is stunted as businesses are forced to contend with dirty, unreliable or prohibitively expensive energy alternatives.
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