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Kenya launches plan to boost access to clean energy

Xinhua, December 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan government on Thursday launched a plan that outlines a raft of policy and regulatory incentives to boost access to renewable energy sources among households and business entities.

Senior officials said the new roadmap will help stimulate investments in cleaner energy sources like geothermal, wind and solar and promote their adoption in line with global commitments.

The Principal Secretary in the ministry of energy and petroleum, Engineer Joseph Njoroge said that Kenya aims to achieve universal access to greener energy sources by 2020.

"Our commitment to achieve sustainable energy access for all citizens is on course. We are promoting investments in renewable energy to serve off-grid households and industries as part of the vision 2030 agenda," Njoroge said.

The East African nation has encouraged sustainable exploitation of cleaner energy sources like hydro power, solar, wind and geothermal to help advance the industrialization agenda.

Njoroge said the government and its multilateral partners have increased investments in green energy in order to promote low carbon production of goods and services.

"Kenya is currently an attractive investment destination for renewable energy that is feeding into the national grid to light additional homes and power industries," said Njoroge.

He disclosed that a national survey to ascertain Kenya's renewable energy potential has been ongoing to guide their sustainable exploitation.

The PS added the government has invested in skills and technologies to facilitate prudent harnessing of Kenya's vast renewable energy potential.

"We have partnered with several multilateral and bilateral allies who have pledged financing and technology transfer to help the country double access to clean energy," Njoroge said.

Kenya is ahead of its African peers in terms of access to clean energy among households thanks to political commitment and a friendly policy environment that has stimulated investments in solar, wind and geothermal.

The Director of Renewable Energy Department in the ministry of energy and petroleum, Engineer Isaac Kiva said the government has prioritized high impact investments in cleaner energy sources.

"We are going to mobilize new resources to invest in mini grids, geothermal, solar and wind turbines as part of a national electrification strategy," Kiva told Xinhua. Endit