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| You are here: | Comments and remarks to Wim Jonker Klunne |
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The World Bank Group today launches an initiative to provide modern lighting to the 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa who have no access to electricity. Jointly managed by the World Bank and IFC, Lighting Africa aims to develop market conditions for the supply and distribution of new, nonfossil fuel lighting products, such as fluorescent light bulbs and light emitting diodes, in rural and urban areas of the region that are not connected to the electricity grid. The “energy poor” in Africa spend about $17 billion a year on fuel-based lighting sources, such as kerosene lamps, that are costly, inefficient, and provide poor quality light while polluting and posing fire hazards. For these consumers, lighting is often the most expensive item among their energy uses, typically accounting for 10 to 15 percent of total household income. Hence there is a potentially huge market for modern lighting products that are safe and reliable, that provide higher-quality light, and that are cost-competitive with fuel-based lamps, and powered by renewable energy or mechanical sources. Lighting Africa, which is supported by a number of donors, including seed money from the Global Environment Facility, seeks to attract the international lighting industry, as well as local suppliers and service providers, to this market. Lars Thunell, IFC Executive Vice President and CEO, said, "In partnership with the private sector, IFC will help develop sustainable business models to supply good quality lighting to the poorest of the poor in Africa. Our goal is to give families and small business owners clean, modern, and affordable alternatives to fossil fuel lamps." S. Vijay Iyer, World Bank Energy Sector Manager for Africa, said, "Modern lighting will mean improved air quality and safety for millions of people in Africa. It will mean longer reading hours for students and longer business hours for small shops. Lighting Africa will directly contribute to the Millennium Development Goals. It is a cornerstone of the World Bank's Clean Energy and Development Investment Framework and the Africa Energy Access Scale-up Plan." More than 350 companies have already expressed interest in the initiative. Gerard Kleisterlee, President and CEO of Philips, said in a recent speech, “The rural lighting market, like many markets for low-income people in developing countries, is not very well known or explored. It is essential that governments and international organizations such as the World Bank, NGOs, and various companies get together in a network to work out the appropriate business models.” Vincent Loh, Chairman, Kenya Renewable Energy Association, said, "The Development Marketplace competition provides a unique opportunity for local African companies to participate in the development of lighting products and services tailored to local market needs and conditions." The first phase of Lighting Africa, which starts today, will have three priorities: Launch a competition for the design and delivery of innovative, low-cost, high-quality, nonfossil lighting products that target low-income consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ten to 20 winners will receive grants up to $200,000. Initiate market research in Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia to better understand consumer demand, behavior and preferences. The research will also look at local supply, marketing, and distribution channels. Initial results of this research are expected early 2008. Inaugurate a business-to-business Web portal where manufacturers, distributors, and marketers from all over the world can create partnerships, conduct business online, and access the latest market information. Additional information: visit the Lighting Africa website at: http://www.lightingafrica.org. News date: 05/09/2007 |
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