The World Bank disclosed on Monday it has approved 330 million US dollar (ca. 1,9 milliarder DKR) for Kenya to expand electricity access and deepen investment in green energy.
The “Kenya Electricity Expansion Project” approved by the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors will increase electricity access to Kenyans in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
– Kenya has demonstrated a strong commitment to clean and green energy by exploiting its geo-thermal potential, said in Nairobi Johannes Zutt, the World Bank Country Director for Kenya.
The loan has been approved under a project of more than 1,4 billion dollar being invested in the electricity industry by the Kenyan govern-ment, the World Bank and other development partners to strengthen the nations foundations for economic growth and competitiveness, Zutt said.
Kenya had sche-duled power cuts between Aug. 6 and Oct. 22 last year after low water levels in its hydro-generation dams cut capacity to about 30 percent.
It plans to build power plants to generate 1.500 megawatts by 2019 after drought reduced supplies from hydropower plants, which generate about 60 percent of its electricity, according Kenya Power & Lighting Ltd., the nation’s monopoly power distributor.
SERVICE-SEKTOREN TAGER DOMINANS
In related Kenya news, a report compiled by the World Bank and the Export Promotion Council indicates that Kenya is becoming a service driven economy shedding the age-old dependence on agriculture and the manufacturing sectors.
Globally, the service sector accounts for 20 per cent of the economy, while the industry in Kenya currently stands at 60 per cent of GDP, with a corresponding 68 per cent of employment creation. Agriculture and industry, previously the key growth drivers, are at 24 and 17 per cent respectively.
According to the East African Community Secretary General Juma Mwapachu, the region must move towards a knowledge-based economy as opposed to goods.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
