Per capita electricity use in Africa is less than 2 percent, says new report by ECA’s NEPAD Unit

Addis Ababa, 26 March 2007: A new publication by the NEPAD Support Unit of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) says most African countries continue to depend on biomass for their energy use and that electricity use per capita on the continent is less than 2 per cent.

“Without access to sufficient, quality and reliable energy, every social and development activity is critically constrained,” says the publication, “Optimizing UN Resources for the Development of Africa’s Energy Sector”, which will be made available to Africa's Ministers of Finance who will meet here next week.

It says if African countries are to achieve their MDGs in a sustainable manner, they must address the unique challenges which their energy deficits create.

To do this, says the publication, African countries must pursue initiatives which will secure access to energy for, at least, 35 percent of Africa’s population within 20 years, especially in rural areas.

The publication also highlights the specific roles that various UN agencies have played in support of NEPAD’s objective of improving energy in Africa and outlines the challenges to greater achievement.

It says differing budget cycles of various UN agencies was preventing the coherence that could result in a more efficient support for NEPAD in developing Africa’s energy sector.

Click here to download the publication.