AfDB to support electricity access for all by 2030 with African Renewable Energy Initiative
02/12/2015 – African Development Bank Group
Africa has launched an ambitious African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) as the continent’s a major contribution to Conference of Parties (COP21) taking place in Paris, France.
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The launch of the initiative which aims to produce 300 gigawatts (GW) of electricity for the continent by 2030 is a demonstration of Africa’s leadership in the UN climate negotiations.

The initiative’s goals are to help achieve sustainable development, enhance well-being and sound economic development by ensuring universal access to sufficient amounts of clean, appropriate and affordable energy.

The project also aims to help African countries leapfrog towards renewable energy systems that support their low-carbon development strategies while enhancing economic and energy security.

The initiative is expected to deliver 10 GW of new and additional renewable energy generation capacity by 2020 and mobilize the African potential to generate at least 300 GW by 2030.

AREI is an outcome of African leadership in Workstream II of the Durban Platform including their May 2014 proposal for a global renewable energy support programme.
The initiative has been endorsed by African Heads of State (AU Assembly and Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change) and Ministers of Environment (AMCEN) the G7 (Elmau Summit) the G20 (Energy Summit)…

Speaking during the launch of the project at the Africa Pavillion in Paris, Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), one of the major sponsors of the initiative, said the institution will triple its financing to climate change initiatives by 2020 dedicating 40 percent of the Bank’s resources to such efforts.

He regretted that Africa is often referred to as a dark continent because majority of the residents have no access to electricity. “Africa has 640 million of its people who don’t have access to electricity. A total of 7 million Africans have no access to clean energy and majority use charcoal and kerosene. This always leads to deaths. We must stop this,” Adesina said.

He added, “The initiative is a game-changer as Africa loses 4 per cent of its GDP due to lack of clean energy. Sunshine should do more than just nourish our crops. It must light our homes. Our massive water resources should do more than water our farms, it should power our industries. Potential is important, but homes and industries cannot be powered by potential. Africa must unlock its renewable energy potentials.”…

…The African Development Bank is working to put in place all necessary arrangements to host AREI Delivery Unit as well as serve as the Trustee as requested by the AREI Partners and ensure the immediate implementation of the initiative. It fits well with the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa that has an ambitious target of universal access by 2025 (which entails 100% urban access and 95% rural access).