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World Bank to fund $150mn power
recovery plan for Somalia
SOMALIA THE World Bank is to lend $150mn to boost the provision of adequate health and education
electricity access across Somalia by funding off- services, and for responding effectively to the
gird green power initiatives in a bid to alleviate COVID-19 pandemic and future shocks. The
poverty and to boost post-coronavirus (COVID- project is set to enhance health and education
19) economic recovery. services by providing electricity access to 205
The Somalia Electricity Recovery Project is health facilities and 380 schools.
set to increase access to cleaner, lower cost elec- 90% of Somalia’s electricity is supplied
tricity for 1.1mn households, or approximately through isolated diesel‐based mini-grids oper-
7mn people, of which 3.5mn are women. The ated by private energy service providers (ESPs).
project also aims to re-establish a stable electric- The combination of a highly fragmented private
ity supply and support regional integration, the electricity sector along with an installed capac-
World Bank said. ity that is inadequate to serve current and future
Out of a population of about 15mn, 9mn demand has resulted in an inefficient and expen-
Somalis lack access to electricity services, and sive supply given the lack of economies of scale.
the cost of power is among the highest in the Somalia also has significant potential for
world. In addition, almost nine out of 10 Somali using renewable energy for electricity genera-
households are deprived in at least one dimen- tion, particularly solar and wind energy, as iden-
sion of poverty – monetary, energy, education, tified by numerous assessments by the World
or water and sanitation, according to the World Bank.
Bank’s 2019 Somalia Poverty and Vulnerability “The project’s design builds on the World
Assessment. Bank’s experience of supporting local insti-
The combined impacts of the COVID‐19 tutions in fragility, conflict & violence (FCV)
pandemic, devastating flooding, droughts and affected countries, with the goal of enhancing
a desert locust infestation further undermine local knowledge and capacity to improve service
economic recovery and efforts to reduce poverty. delivery and build back better using green and
“Access to affordable electricity is critical for resilient solutions,” said Erik Fernstrom, World
reducing poverty, as it helps increase household Bank Practice Manager for infrastructure in
income, improve the business climate and create Southern and Eastern Africa.
jobs,” said Kristina Svensson, World Bank Coun- The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS),
try Manager for Somalia. as an active member of the Horn of Africa Initia-
“This project complements and leverages tive (HoAI), can also leverage the opportunities
programmes by the World Bank Group and offered by regional integration to leapfrog the
those of international partners in Somalia by establishment of backbone transmission infra-
scaling up investments to improve service structure and have access to diverse and low‐cost
delivery.” electricity supply from regional neighbours.
Access to electricity is also a pre‐requisite for
Week 50 16•December•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P5
