XNEWS
Date: 13.01.2016
Page 7
Article size: 273 cm2
ColumnCM: 60.66
AVE: 0.0
Kenya banks on renewable
energy as others play catch up
Kenya's recent moves to invest in programs that boost economic
renewable energy have prompted growth, reduce poverty, and
other countries across the
improve poor people's lives.
continent to follow suit.
IDA is one of the largest sources
While Kenya is making headway
in its plans to fully exploit its wind
and geothermal potential, the
country has yet to see substantial
growth in the sector evident in
countries such as Turkey, which
of assistance for the world's 77
poorest countries, 39 of which
are in Africa. Resources from
IDA bring positive change for
2.8 billion people, the majority of
whom live on less than $2 (Sh200)
has, since 2001, commissioned
a day. Last year, the Bank stated
16,000 megawatts (MW) of that through the IDA, more than
private sector hydro, wind, 630,000 Kenyans would benefit
geothermal aind other renewable from access to electricity. The
sources.
Nonetheless, the World Bank
states that similar results are
global lender added that existing
consumers will enjoy better
quality of electricity services, and
being achieved in India, Kenya, the Kenya Power and Lighting
Mongolia and many other Company (Kenya Power) will be
countries around the world.
financially stronger as a result
of new projects approved by the
been struck, it's time for countries
World Bank Group in March.
to scale up action to make their
economic development more
sustainable and fully climate
"Now that the climate deal has
operational" the lender said in a
statement.
Kenya's moves seem to have
inspired other African nations
Like Liberia.
The World Bank Board of
Executive Directors yesterday
approved a new financing
agreement of $27 million (Sh2.7
billion) to increase access to
affordable and reliable electricity
and to foster the use of renewable
energy sources in Liberia. This
agreement comprises of US$25
million (Sh2.5 billion) grant
from the Strategic Climate Fund
Scaling Up Renewable Energy
Program and US$2 million
International Development
Association (IDA) credit.
The World Bank's International
Development Association (IDA),
established in 1960, and helps
the world's poorest countries by
providing grants and low to zero­
interest loans for projects and
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya