Almost five years ago, former U.S. President Barack Obama launched a project called “Power Africa”, which was aimed at working with government agencies across to spur private sector solutions to expand availability to the 85 percent of Africans without access to electricity.
Today, Trump administration is making a renewed commitment to this goal.
CGTN’s Daniel Ryntjes reports from Washington.
When Donald Trump declared “America First” many development experts wondered if that would also mean Africa last.
U.S. officials now say President Trump fully supports government agencies that aim to boost private sector development. They are rebooting former President Obama’s “Power Africa” project.
“Under Power Africa 2.0, we will be expanding beyond our previous targets of increasing energy generation and access and looking to make gains in the area of distribution and transmission.” Mark Green, Administrator at the US agency for international Development said.
Transmission means those high voltage lines that carry electricity over a distance and distribution is the point where the voltage is stepped down, so it can enter people’s homes.
“We’re also having very great difficulties in moving the generated electricity to the consumers and there’s so much investment opportunities.” Nigeria’s senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe said.
U.S. officials meeting African ministers and investors at the “Powering Africa” summit in Washington said they will support such demands with a mix of technical assistance, loan guarantees and financing.
“And so you have a lot of money here. Please avail it to us at a cheap rate! Avail it to us at a cheap rate. For us, we are ready; we are open to receive you. And join hands with us.” Irene Muloni, Uganda’s minister for energy and minerals said.
Despite Donald Trump’s support for fossil fuels, the U.S. will continue supporting renewable solutions like solar, which provide power much more easily to remote rural communities.
Overall there remains a commitment to encouraging the use of innovative technologies, financing and solid financial governance, to expand the availability of electricity to millions of homes and businesses across Africa.
