TeThis fxt boy Mllows the Uniteartin Chemhered States’ announcement of a US$89 million award to advance access to clean, reliable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the US announced a new Power Africa initiative for East and Central Africa to provide a five-year award, subject to the availability of funds, that will expand access to cleaner, reliable energy in sub-Saharan Africa.
Power Africa convenes the collective resources of the private sector, international development organizations, and governments from around the world to increase energy access and to end energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.
Administrator Samantha Power made the announcement at the Africa Energy Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, during remarks to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Power Africa, a U.S. government-led partnership aimed at ending energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2013, Power Africa has helped deliver access to electricity to more than 172 million people across sub-Saharan Africa.
The Power Africa program will support 10 million on and off-grid connections for households and businesses in the region, providing 50 million people access to new or improved electricity generated from cleaner fuel sources. In addition, the program will mobilize $4.7 billion in new public and private investment to support 1,227 megawatts of clean energy capacity and develop 1,500 km of new transmission lines. This critical infrastructure will deliver electricity to homes and businesses.
In 2021, Power Africa-supported renewable energy projects helped prevent 6.2 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the equivalent of burning 6.8 billion pounds of coal. The Biden-Harris Administration has invested $193 million to support Power Africa and plans to provide another $100 million in FY 2023. Power Africa was launched on June 30, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa, by the then President Obama. The initiative is aimed at doubling the number of people with access to power in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The continental project will unlock the substantial wind, solar, hydropower, natural gas, and geothermal resources in the region to enhance energy security, decrease poverty, and advance economic growth.