Africa: Agreement To Boost EU-Africa Sustainable Energy Ties

By Staff Writer

European Commission President, Jose’ Manuel Barroso is to co-sign joint declarations in New York on Monday 23, to boost its co-operation on sustainable energy with five African countries.

The agreements with Liberia, Togo, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire and Rwanda will aim to increase access to sustainable energy sources, especially in rural areas.

“Sustainable energy is essential for fueling growth and development and there for I proposed the ambitious target of helping developing countries to provide sustainable energy services to 500million people by the year 2030,” Borroso said

He also said that it was a delight that EU is joining forces with African countries in taking lead in the fight against energy poverty.

The commission plans to provide around 2 billion euro for energy projects in Africa through 2014 – 2020 financial period.

European Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, who is currently in New York for the United Nations (UN) Climate Summit said without energy, factories cannot function, schools cannot be lighted up and families cannot cook and this is a situation that many people are still facing today. But it is equally important that sustainable energy sources are promoted first and foremost.

“These declarations are a clear sign of the political commitment of all co-signatories that we want to work together and achieve faster progress in ensuring access to sustainable energy for all,” Piebalgs said.

Currently EU supports the Lake Turkana Wind Power project in northern Kenya with 25 million euro under the EU-Africa Infrastructure, which aims at reducing the East African countries import dependency and season-sensitive hydropower production, increase energy security and improve economic activities in rural areas.