Africa: Let There Be Light

World Bank initiative aims to bring electric power to 250 million Africans

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 16, 2007 2:50 AM CST

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Africa: Let There Be Light — Kenyan school children climb a fence to get a better view, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, at the World Poverty day celebration in a Nairobi slum in Kenya. When the sun goes down, Africa goes dark. Fewer than 25 per cent of Africans have access to electricity for light and heat.(AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo) (Associated Press)

Even after decades of development, most African communities have no electrical power and still go dark when the sun goes down. Only 5% of Ugandans, 6% of the Congolese population and 15% of Kenyans have electricity. Now the World Bank has launched an initiative to light the homes of 250 million Africans by 2025.

"The impact would be huge," said the head of the "Lighting Africa" initiative. "Globally, there are 1.7 billion people who lack reliable access to electrical services. You've got some technologies already in the market, but what you don't have are manufacturers who understand the needs of the African market." (More Africa stories.)

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