Framework for rural electrification with emphasis on new and renewable energy sources, including mini-hydropower stations

Abstract

Despite decades of effort and investment in rural electrification programmes, Africa, and particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, is still lagging behind other developing regions in terms of access to electricity supply by its population. This situation was one of major concerns of African Leaders when the OAU Heads of State and Government adopted the "New African Initiative (NAI)" at their Summit held in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001. It was recognized that energy plays a critical role in the development process both as a domestic necessity and as a factor of production whose cost directly affects prices of other goods and services.