US President Barack Obama, who on February 8, 2016 signed into law a measure aimed at expanding electricity to millions of households in sub-Saharan Africa. PHOTO | SAUL LOEB | AFP.
Obama signs Africa electricity initiative into law
President Barack Obama signed into law Monday a measure aimed at expanding electricity to millions of households in sub-Saharan Africa, a measure supporters say will save lives and accelerate growth on the continent.
The Electrify Africa Act, which unanimously passed the House of Representatives and Senate, leverages partnerships with the private sector in order to bring first-time electricity access to some 50 million people in underserved parts of Africa.
- Virtually no new US federal funds are allocated for the project, which instead will use a system of loan guarantees to add 20,000 megawatts of electricity to the continent’s grid by 2020.
- The law aims to build on a “Power Africa” initiative Obama promoted during a trip to Kenya in July.
- It would see the investment of about $7 billion in US funds, largely financed through the US Export-Import Bank, in order to create 30,000 megawatts of clean energy generation. READ MORE
