Three more countries pledge to join Africa’s solar revolution
Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda are the latest countries to join the Energy Africa campaign, International Development Minister Nick Hurd has announced.
Minister Hurd and President of Malawi Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika. Picture: Jess Seldon/DFID
The agreements will see closer working between the UK and each country to power up the emerging household solar market across Africa.
This takes the number of countries pledging to join the Energy Africa campaign to 6, with Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Somalia already on board.
Nick Hurd signed the deals during meetings with Ghana’s Honourable Minister of Power, Dr Kwabena Donkor, President of Malawi, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, Malawi’s Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Bright Msaka, and Rwanda’s Honourable Minister of Infrastructure, James Musoni, at The Global African Investment Summit in London.
Nick Hurd, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, said:
It is unacceptable that two-thirds of people in Africa do not have access to electricity. Families are forced to rely on toxic, expensive kerosene and children cannot study after dark. On current projections the continent will not have universal energy access until 2080. That is why we must act to kick-start a solar revolution across Africa.
And with the cost of solar panels falling, battery technology improving and appliances becoming more efficient, now is the time to invest. British businesses are already combining solar and mobile phone technology to bring clean energy to people in Africa.
I am delighted that Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda have joined the Energy Africa campaign. Together we can power up the solar markets in these countries and transform people’s lives.
Minister Hurd and Ghana's Honourable Minister of Power Dr Kwabena Donkor. Picture: Jess Seldon/DFID
Minister Hurd and Ghana’s Honourable Minister of Power Dr Kwabena Donkor. Picture: Jess Seldon/DFID
Minister Hurd and Rwanda’s Honourable Minister of Infrastructure James Musoni. Picture: Jess Seldon/DFID
Notes to Editors
- Partnership Agreements with Ghana and Malawi and a Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda on the Energy Africa campaign were agreed on Wednesday 2 December at The Global African Investment Summit in London.
- The Energy Africa campaign aims to accelerate universal energy access in sub-Saharan Africa by boosting the continent’s household solar market.
- Together with African governments, investors, businesses, NGOs, think tanks and other donors, DFID will work to increase investment in off-grid energy firms, overcome regulatory barriers, foster innovation, and accelerate delivery of solar energy systems to households across Africa.
- UK companies such as Azuri, BBOXX and MKOPA are pioneering clean and affordable technology that offers households in Africa immediate energy access.
- More information on Energy Africa here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/energy-africa-campaign