East African countries agree on energy access targets

Fourteen countries in the East African bloc have approved a new plan to attain energy access targets.
The agreement was reached by representatives of Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Comoros, Seychelles, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Uganda; the host, last week at the 17th meeting of Intergovernmental committee of experts.

Speaking at the event, Ms Maria Kiwanuka, the Minister of Finance, planning and economic development, noted that sustainable power would be possible in Uganda if energy sector development was linked with economic activities, such as mining, petroleum production and agriculture, among others.

The countries agreed that specific energy objectives must be established, individually implemented with the help of development partners and regional blocs, to fight energy insufficiencies to achieve sustainable energy objectives by 2030.

United Nation Economic Commission for Africa-Eastern Africa director Pedro Antonio, noted that all countries in the (Eastern) region had different potential to produce reasonable energy in terms of geo-thermal, hydro, and other renewable forms. However, implementing individual policies had been a challenge and would only be solved if targets had been set, with specific time frames. “As individual countries, we must set energy objectives supplemented by accurate data monitoring and evaluation frameworks,” Mr Antonio said.

Countries in the Sub-saharan region have the least electricity generation globally of about 99 MW per one million people compared to Asia which is about 200 MW per one million people, Central America’s 441 MW, South America’s 535 MW and Europe’s above 1,000 MW per million people.

Inadequate power has crippled industrialisation. But with specific energy access targets in place, energy production will be boosted.

musisif@ug.nationmedia.com

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