EAC: TANZANIA, RWANDA AND SOMALIA PICKED FOR CLEAN ENERGY PILOT

Tanzania, Rwanda and Somalia are among four countries selected as pilots of a new World Bank clean energy programme that is set to benefit at least 100 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. By Bob Karashani

World Bank President Ajay Banga. PHOTO | AFP

Sao Tome and Principe will also take part in the rollout of the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (Ascent) programme, which will be expanded to 20 countries in the region over the next seven years.

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga announced the $15 billion project during the International Development Association’s (IDA) mid-term review meeting of its 20^th financing round in Zanzibar.

According to Mr Banga, at least $5 billion of the funding requirement will be covered by IDA and the remaining will be from partners.

“We know it won’t solve the problem of access to power for the entire continent since there are more than 600 million Africans facing the problem.” he said. “But we see it as a start, and also a platform to draw more interest among IDA partners to also join the cause through similar investments.”