Fresh UN review shows financing in Africa’s renewable energy necessary for continent’s fiscal expansion

NEW YORK, May 6: Monitoring facts from 54 African nations, a fresh UN atlas divulges the continent's energy prospective; showing that financing in renewable energy would reinforce its fiscal development.

“The Atlas makes a strong case that investments in green energy infrastructure can bolster Africa's economic development and bring it closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” revealed Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, Director and Regional Representative of the Africa Office for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Per se, she persisted, it is an essential strategy guide for African governments as they endeavor to catalyze countrywide expansion by utilizing their energy assets.

The Atlas of Africa Energy Resources, published by UNEP and the African Development Bank at the World Economic Forum being organized in Durban, South Africa, presents both the prospective and the delicateness of the continent's energy assets, which are at the core of Africa's socio-economic expansion.

While Africa is elaborately gifted with both renewable and non-renewable energy assets, its present energy creation is inadequate to cope up with the requirements. Approximately a third Africa's populace is still deprived of admittance to electricity and 53 per cent of the populace relies on biomass for cooking, space heating and drying.

As stated by UNEP, energy utilization on the continent is the lowermost in the globe, and per capita utilization has scarcely altered since 2000. The neediest African families spend 20 times more per unit of energy than affluent families when linked to the grid. A kettle boiled two times by a household in the United Kingdom utilizes five times as much electricity as a Malian utilizes annually, as stated by UNEP.

“This Atlas will be instrumental to ease access to information and data in the energy sector for all stakeholders, including the donor community, African governments and the private sector,” revealed Amadou Hott, Vice-President in charge of power, energy, climate and green growth, African Development Bank.

Giving facts in the type of comprehensive 'before and after' images, charts, maps and other satellite statistics from 54 nations by means of graphics, the Atlas specifies the trials and prospects in giving Africa's populace with admittance to dependable, reasonably priced and contemporary energy facilities.

Created in collaboration with the Environment Pulse Institute, United States Geological Survey and George Mason University, the Atlas enhances the statistics on the energy setting in Africa, emphasizing some accomplishment accounts of viable energy expansion around the continent, but also sparkling a light on key ecological trials connected with energy infrastructure expansion.