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AU, IRENA push for sustainable, modern energy in Africa 

By  Kingsley Jeremiah, Abuja 
05 September 2023   |   4:08 am
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), yesterday, sealed a deal to accelerate access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. 
International Renewable Energy Agency

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), yesterday, sealed a deal to accelerate access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. 

   
The pact would provide support for nations in their efforts to achieve the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063 and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7.
   
The agreement was signed by IRENA Director-General, Francesco La Camera, and AUDA-NEPAD CEO, Nardos Bekele-Thomas, on the sidelines of Africa Climate Week in Nairobi.
  
La Camera acknowledged that 80 per cent of the global population without access to electricity resides in Sub-Saharan Africa, adding that existing energy infrastructure would not adequately meet the continent’s needs.
 
“The creation of a more equitable energy system – one that leverages a diverse mix of Africa’s abundant renewable resources – is dependent upon a more interconnected, flexible and reliable power grid in the region. This partnership serves as a pivotal step towards achieving that objective,” he said 
  
On her part, Bekele-Thomas underscored findings of the Continental Power Systems Masterplan (CMP), designed to provide a strategic roadmap for connecting Africa’s five power pools, and reiterated the need for proactive measures on the continent’s electricity sector.

“The current business as usual trajectory falls significantly short of achieving universal electricity access by 2040, necessitating a substantial increase in investments to elevate the continent’s installed capacity from 266GW to approximately 1,218GW. 

“To realise this ambitious target, an estimated $1.29 trillion in cumulative investments will be essential, potentially culminating in the establishment of a robust continental electricity market valued at $136 billion by 2040. 
  
“It is imperative to take urgent and strategic actions to accomplish these transformative goals,” she added.

 

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