Kenya calls for regional power grids to end African blackouts

2 hours ago

NAIROBI (AFP) — Kenya on Tuesday urged African nations to create functional regional power grids to end systemic blackouts that have blighted the continent thirsty for economic growth.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki said the continent, home to 800 million people or 13 percent of the world's population, only accounted for three percent of global electricty consumption.

Although many African countries have formed power pools -- which barely function -- the continent is still grappling with shortages.

"The benefits of regional power integration need no emphasising. After all, each country has its own unique strengths with regard to power generation potential," Kibaki told the 16th Congress of the Union of Producers, Transporters and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa (UPTDEA).

"Integration of power and other infrastructure will enhance the sharing of resources" he added.

"By forming regional partnerships, African power utilities will also facilitate transfer of skills and information, thus accelerating growth and expansion of power supply."

The International Energy Agency forecasts 584 million people -- 526 million of them in Africa -- will be without electricity by 2030, even as the continent's power demand skyrockets as its economies expand.

By then, Kibaki said, Africa's power needs will have hit 260,000 megawatts that will require 560 million dollars (360 million euros) of investment.

"Let us not see the increasing power demand as a challenge, rather as opportunity to expand our business and power economic growth," said Eddie Njoroge, UPTDEA chairman and Kenya Power Generating Company chief.

Both speakers blamed poor management for the frequent blackouts in Africa, although some African nations, under pressure from donors, have started cleaning up their acts.

"One area of concern that has been cited as a contributor to the low performance of the power sector is lack of good governance," added Kibaki, whose nation has faced frequent outages.

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