Monday
July 6
2020

Africa Needs to Regain Momentum on Electrification Effort, Says IEA

By Neanda Salvaterra

Faith Birol, the executive director for the International Energy Agency, kicked off one of the year’s largest online meetings of African ministers and other international dignitaries by urging them to handle the COVID-19 pandemic while also recapturing their momentum of extending access to energy on the continent.

“While Africa’s future will be determined by Africans, there is a need for international cooperation and support [for the continent],” said Birol.

However, some African leaders disagreed with the international consensus of focusing investments solely on renewable energy, arguing that some fossil fuels, such as natural gas, can help provide power more cheaply.

Photo courtesy of Karsten Würth.

Source: Karma (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Energy, Environment
Tags
climate change, energy access