He disclosed that more than 140 mini grids should be operational by 2022 serving over 400 customers mostly in the rural areas which will contribute to narrow the disparity in energy access between urban and rural areas.
President Bio added that the country is starving from energy in the midst of potential plenty with millions of tons of biomass, thousands of rivers and water catchment areas, near perpetual sunlight from geothermal potential and more sources of natural gas.
“We have no reason to be energy poor, yet we fall trees while was Europe was busy with first, second and third industrial revolutions; unfortunately we are still falling trees when the fourth industrial revolution is looming and we are destroying our biomass” President noted.
Value chain agriculture and additional economic activities according to Mr. Bio are possible with only with the availability of energy, cited that small scale manufacturing and the production of good and services are possible with the availability of energy.
President Bio pointed out that affordable, efficient and sustainable energy supply is critical for human capital development and economic progress.
He reiterated that upon taking office, his government prioritized scaling of renewable technology in 2018, disclosing that they made the commitment with a wider strategy objective to increase energy access for his citizens from 17-80% in 2030 and to raise the share of renewable electricity in the generation mix for 25-60% by 2023.
Speaking on the Global Energy Context Chairman of the Energy Nexus Network Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella noted that the process started in January this year during the international renewable agency general assembly to host Parliamentarians to understand the critical role in terms of energy access.
He stated that the unique future of the conference is to ensure that clean cooking as the same level electrification, citing that the conference is an experiment for them with lot international observers.
“85% of the population in sub-Saharan African did not have access to clean cooking, it killing about 4.3 million people around the world Africa alone loosing almost 600,000 Africans mainly women and children globally” he added.
Secretary General Mano River Union Ambassador Medina Wesseh asserted that they take into consideration the key role of energy at the central to the formation and accomplishment of daily activities of the society.
She added that Africa and the Mano River Union are still struggling to achieve the full potential of electricity need despite the huge water, natural gas, wind, solar and other forms of power potentials.
“Numerous initiatives has been undertaken and considered by our various governments at national level and together at sub-regional level in improving energy productivity” she said.
