The World Bank and International Finance Corporation have budgeted $12 million to begin weaning Africa's off-grid energy market away from its dependence on expensive fuel-based lighting, Reuters quoted an official as saying today. The programme, Lighting Africa, targets low-cost renewable energy sources, such as solar-powered lanterns, to reach the 700 million Africans they say will be without electricity by 2030. "Today in Africa, people spend more than $10 billion a year on kerosene," programme director, Patrick Avato, told Reuters. "People are spending 10 to 30 percent of their disposable incomes on kerosene. What that is getting them is very low quality light that causes indoor pollution and health problems, apart from significant greenhouse gas emissions," he said. Avato said the cost of solar-based technologies has dropped significantly since 2008 and has become an increasingly viable option for manufacturers of consumer products. "Rather than spend $5 every month on kerosene ... some (solar-based) products are now less than $25 and once you have bought them their operation is free," Avato said. -- SPA
