By 
A US$50 million regional platform to support COMESA member states and other participating countries in promoting sustainable energy access investments is set to be implemented.
This would be implemented by COMESA and the World Bank.
The project is part of a new World Bank’s US$5 billion programme designed to accelerate sustainable and clean energy access and provide life-transforming opportunities for 100 million people across countries in Eastern and Southern Africa over the next seven years.
The Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) programme could become a game-changer in a region where only 48 percent of the overall population and just 26 percent in rural areas, had access to electricity, according to a statement issued on Tuesday.
The statement stated that the platform would engage specialised firms and individuals to provide demand-led technical support in an agile manner to public and private sector entities from participating countries.
Read more: COMESA, European Union sign financing agreements worth €48.2 million
“The new regional platform, under the supervision and implementation of COMESA, will support participating countries through various initiatives designed to fill the technical gaps identified in the energy sector, particularly with regards to project preparation, investment readiness, technical know-how and energy access,” the statement stated.
Commenting on the development, World Bank Director for Regional Integration in Africa and the Middle East, Boutheina Guermazi, said the institution looked forward to supporting countries across the region with cutting edge knowledge, research, data and technology to unleash a rapid expansion of energy access.
“The World Bank is very pleased to partner with COMESA on the energy access agenda as a regional approach is required to meaningfully scale up energy access in a way that can transform economies in Eastern and Southern Africa,” Guermazi said.
The new regional platform, under the supervision and implementation of COMESA, would support participating countries through various initiatives designed to fill the technical gaps identified in the energy sector.
COMESA Secretary-General, Chileshe Kapwepwe, in her comment urged member states to engage the secretariat on how they can be part of the initiative.
Kapwepwe said the platform was essential for the region as availability of clean, reliable and affordable energy was needed to drive the social and economic development of the region, which was crucial for the trade development agenda of COMESA.
“This is an African-owned and led platform to enhance project implementation and accelerate access to clean energy through the facilitation of knowledge exchange, project preparation, provision of advisory services and support for policy development in a timely manner,” she said.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments