Accelerating Sub-Saharan Africa Energy Access with Distributed Renewable Energy

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Accelerating Sub-Saharan Africa Energy Access with Distributed Renewable Energy

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The World Bank, IFC, and MIGA launched a joint program to triple the electrification pace in Sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative will work with governments and the private sector to scale up private financing and deliver clean energy services through decentralized renewable energy solutions, such as mini-grids, off-grid solar markets, and systems for schools and health facilities, solar irrigation and cold chain for farmers, and innovative business models to displace diesel generation and improve access reliability. 

The panel discussed the importance of accelerating investment in distributed energy solutions and how innovative risk mitigation solutions can unlock barriers to investment. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, spoke about the need for electricity in her country, particularly in remote areas such as islands. Hiroshi Matano, Executive Vice President of MIGA, highlighted how political risk solutions can help mitigate some of the key risks while improving the viability of projects and accelerating scale.

Speakers are listed below

00:00 Welcome! COP27 | Sub-Saharan Africa Energy Access
04:46 Expanding energy access in Uganda
11:57 The support from the World Bank Group and partners
16:18 The role of the private sector
20:42 Scaling up private sector financing
24:28 How to move faster
27:38 Challenges in achieving universal access of energy
36:10 The factor of technology
38:34 The role of utilities
44:01 Closure

“Achieving universal access to reliable and affordable electricity is not just about electricity, but the potential it creates for the citizens of Sub-Saharan Africa. Energy should not be a bottleneck; instead it should be an engine of green, resilient, and inclusive development.”

– Ethiopis Tafara, Vice President and Chief Risk, Legal and Administrative Officer, MIGA

“I invite investment in access, and access has to be access to affordable electricity.”

– Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda

“There’s a huge potential and need in deploying distributed power. We are looking forward to the challenge. It will only be possible through cooperation with the government and through the One World Bank approach.”

– Hiroshi Matano, Executive Vice President, MIGA

“The scale of the challenges means that there are around 700 million people without access to electricity, so there is a lot of work to do.”

– Riccardo Puliti, Vice President, Infrastructure, World Bank

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