Panelists urge governments to focus on alternative energy sources

Addis Ababa, May 13 (WIC) – Panelists at the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa urged governments to give due attention to alternative power sources to provide their people with access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity.

The panelists made the call at a panel discussion held here at the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa under the theme, “New Solutions: Ending Energy Poverty.”

They discussed on the existing electric power shortages in sub-Saharan Africa and how to solve the problem to advance the region’s economic transformation.

Analysts predict that the number of people without access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase to almost 700 million by 2030.

Governments, therefore, need to seek solution as the problem will bring further poverty on agricultural and other economic activities of the region.

The panelists on the occasion proposed short and long term solutions for the problem. As part of the short term plan, they stressed the need to scaling up renewable and innovative energy alternatives for rural areas.

As a long term solution, participants of the panel discussion recommend countries to focus both on exploring local power resources and solving cross border infrastructure problems across the continent.