- The World Bank has approved $150 million to increase electricity access in Somalia.
- The electricity generated will power 1.1 million households.
The World Bank is set to improve electricity access rates in Somalia. The country’s development has been halted due to the devastating effects of the civil war, especially in its electricity sector. The $150 million funding aims to rejuvenate the electricity sector and boost economic and social development in the country.
According to the World Bank, 90 per cent of Somalia’s electricity is provided by isolated diesel-powered mini-grids. “The combination of a highly fragmented private power sector and insufficient installed capacity to meet current and future demand results in an inefficient and costly service due to the lack of economies of scale,” the international financial institution explains.
The World Bank reckons that the project funding will provide access to electricity to 1.1 million households, or about 7 million people, including 3.5 million women. Currently, out of an estimated population of 15 million, only 6 million people have access to electricity.