Energy has been recognized as a central aspect to sustainable development. This goes to the extent that Africa’s economic growth could by boosted by 30% in the next 20 years if the energy gap were to be closed. Sub-Saharan Africa, however, has the lowest energy access rates in the world: More than 600 million people in Africa lack access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. Critical issues in Africa’s energy sector are manifold: low access, poor reliability, and high costs of power tariffs. Higher levels of energy services are critical to improve human, economic, social, and environmental conditions of the people today and for future generations. Broadly speaking, Africa’s energy poverty makes the continent poor. But how can we address Africa’s electricity challenges and power the continent’s economic transformation?
- Time: 4:00 pm
- Venue: Senior Common Room
Meet the Panelists
Anja Caper-Berretta
Head of the Energy Security and Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Programme, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)
Amb. Attilio Pacifici
Ambassador, EU Delegation to Uganda
Laura Philipps
Project manager, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Team Global Order in Berlin.
Max Walter
Co-founder and Executive Director, Centre for Development Alternatives (CDA)
James Baanabe Isingoma
Acting Director, Directorate of Energy Resources Development of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.