http://www.rttnews.com/2295722/eu-grants-eur95-million-to-provide-energy-to-two-million-people-in-africa.aspx
EU Grants EUR95 Million To Provide Energy To Two Million People In Africa
4/1/2014 7:31 AM ET
The European Commission has awarded grants of EUR95 million for 16 projects
across nine African countries to provide access to energy in rural areas.
This amount will be translated into projects costing more than EUR155
million through co-financing support by applicants, and bring electricity
to more than 2 million people.
Announcing this on Tuesday, EU Commissioner for Development, Andris
Piebalgs said "the EU is scaling up proven successful projects which have a
high impact on poverty reduction through sustainable rural electrification.
A shocking 84 percent of people in rural areas have been left behind
without access to energy. We need to make sure that our work supports
everyone, no matter where they live."
The funding is the result of a 'Call for Proposals', which is an EU funding
system which enables NGOs, government and private sector organizations to
receive a grant for EU Funding based on their proposal for an innovative
project.
The countries which will benefit from this initiative are Madagascar,
Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cameroon, Liberia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Eritrea
and Rwanda. The European Commission will promote another 40 proposals
received -but not selected - to private and public donors and development
agencies.
This is a first step in a new innovative program to bring electricity to
many millions. Over the next 7 years the Commission aims to spend more than
EUR2 billion in supporting energy in Africa. This will, in turn, leverage
investments exceeding EUR10 billion, filling in the gaps for energy
infrastructure and therefore allowing businesses, schools, homes and
hospitals to get the electricity they require.
In addition, another Call for Proposals targeting rural electrification in
fragile states such as Burundi, Liberia, Somalia and Mali is currently
under evaluation.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: editorial_at_rttnews.com
Received on Tue Apr 01 2014 - 07:41:48 EDT