Africa, EU set energy target of 15,500 MW by 2020

The European Union and Africa have agreed to take joint action to achieve a goal of setting up over 15,500 MW of renewable energy facilities in Africa and pledged to provide sustainable energy to at least 100 million Africans additionally by 2020.

A joint declaration to the effect was signed by high-ranking officials of both the continents at the first high level meeting of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) held in Vienna on 14-15 September.

''No sustainable development without sustainable energy solutions.'' Austrian foreign minister Michael Spindelegger commented at the opening address of the conference.

''A reliable energy supply drives social development and economic growth, and plays an essential role in fighting poverty,'' he said.

According to the declaration, Africa and EU will increase the use of renewable energy by setting up 10,000 MW of new hydro power facilities, at least 5,000 MW of wind power and 500 MW of solar energy and tripling the capacity of other renewable energy sources before 2020, besides improving the energy efficiency in all sectors.

AEEP was set up in 2007 in Lisbon by all African and European heads of state and governments as one of the eight strategic partnerships comprising Africa-EU joint strategy, to share the knowhow and resources of both the continents to meet the energy challenge of both Africa and Europe, through reliable and sustainable energy supply.