Power Africa and Team Sweden in Zambia mean new jobs, new skills, new businesses and new renewable energy.
After the success with our support to small scale electricity in Zambia, Sweden now expands the concept to Burkina Faso, Liberia and to Mocambique, (see press release). 500 MSEK will give electricity within five years to 5 - 15 million people in the countryside and urban/periurban areas.
It all began in Lusaka, Zambia
During a few intensive days last month, the embassy in Lusaka hosted visitors from Business Sweden and Sida, discussing sustainability issues and possible broader relations between Zambia and Sweden, with focus on renewable energy and the energy intensive mining sector.
Meetings and site visits with partners in the renewable energy sector showed a rapidly growing sector, and innovative ways to facilitate access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy access for all by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal #7). Increased access to modern energy is a clear goal for Zambia, as only 4-5 % of the rural population is grid-connected. Zambia aims at a low-carbon development path – energy use will need to increase without increasing CO2 emissions. This requires a higher portion of renewable energy in the energy mix, and increased energy efficiency. Meeting the SDGs and climate commitments are challenging for Zambia, but it also brings new business opportunities and a potentially greener economy!
A workshop with the Private Finance Advisory network PFAN with around 30 participants showed a keen interest among entrepreneurs and start-ups within the renewable energy sector to learn more on how to get a project investment ready. PFAN members gave advise and shared experiences on how to enter the programme, design a business plan and present it to investors and clean energy experts.
Beyond the Grid Fund
Energy companies within Sida's Beyond the Grid Fund aim to reach at least one million Zambians not connected to the national electricity grid with clean renewable and reliable energy services by 2021. Already after 18 months of operation, almost half a million people are served by the companies contracted by the fund, and the target is thus well within reach. Moreover, these off-grid services are providing jobs to over 1000 persons, mostly young men and women. Sida intends to continue, expand and scale up the fund to Burkina Faso, Liberia and Mozambique in addition to Zambia, in partnership with the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation, NEFCO, and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, REEEP.
- Beyond the Grid Fund has so far delivered well beyond our expectations. And it is really exciting that the programme now expands in the region, says Magdalena Svensson, Programme manager at the Embassy in Lusaka. The progress of the Beyond the Grid can also be followed live through a new monitoring system Edison.
Kafue Gorge goes for renewables
The team also visited m also visited Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre, KGRTC, located by Zambia's second largest hydropower plant, to discuss a programme with KGRTC and International Labour Organization, ILO, for skills development in renewable energy and energy efficiency. More renewable energy in the energy mix will mean more intermittent supply of power from new sources (solar, wind) into the national grid, which in turn will put new requirements on existing infrastructure.
For efficient integration, new technology and new skills are needed. Energy efficiency will be increasingly important, not least for extractive industries and energy utilities. KGRTC has a position as a leading training facility in Africa for hydropower and grid management. ILO has strong convening power; solid experience and capacity of skills development for employment and ability to coordinate, programme and manage a public private development partnership. There could be possible interest from Swedish/Nordic private companies with international markets as well as Swedish/Nordic public energy authorities and regulators. Business Sweden presented an initiative for capacity building in the energy sector and will discuss further with KGRTC, ILO and Swedish energy actors.
