Millions of Africans to access electricity by 2020 after Obama signed into law ‘Power Africa Initiative’
The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama has signed into a law an initiative that is aimed at expanding electricity to millions of homes in Africa.
The Electrify Africa Act is meant to save lives and accelerate growth in Africa, was passed by the House of Representatives and Senates. The Act will partner with the private sector to put up infrastructure for at least 50 million people in parts of Africa that have not had access to electricity before.
Loan guarantees will be used in the project to add 20 000 megawatts of electricity to Africa’s grid by the year 2020.
Development in Africa has been challenged by the insufficient access to power therefore boosting it will stimulate economic growth and improve access to education and public health.
Obama promoted the ‘Power Africa’ initiative on his visit to Kenya in July last year. The law will lead to an investment of 7 billion dollars in US funds, largely financed through the US Export – Import Bank to create clean energy generation of 30 000 megawatts.
“It’s a game-changer for small businesses that have to close at dark, and school children who are often forced to study by dangerous, inefficient kerosene lamps. And too many families resort to using charcoal or other toxic fuel sources, whose fumes cause more deaths than HIV/Aids and malaria, combined.” said House Foreign Affairs Committee chairperson Ed Royce to AFP
