Africa urged to increase renewable energy use
May 11, 2004
Nairobi - Africa should expand its sources of renewable energy to fight the poverty widespread among the continent's 800 million people, top international energy experts said on Saturday.
Manfred Konukiewitz, the top energy official in Germany's economic and development ministry, said: "It's in Africa where renewable energy is needed most for poverty alleviation."
He was addressing the final session of a two-day African energy ministers' conference, convened by the UN Environment Programme to formulate a common position ahead of a conference in Germany next month.
UN Environment Programme executive director Klaus Toepfer said delivering sustainable and environmentally friendly energy was the most reliable way of overcoming poverty in Africa, where only 10 percent of people have access to grid electricity.
"Despite an abundance of commercial energy resources, the continent accounts for 3 percent of the world's energy consumption because most people cannot afford commercial energy," Toepfer said.
Most people relied on burning biomass fuel to fulfil their daily needs, in spite of the environmental consequences.
The ministers had resolved to promote the sustainable production of biomass fuel and to increase its efficiency.
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