Rural Electrification: Power to the People in Southern Tanzania
Power to the people in Southern Tanzania
Anders H. Nordström, Christian Kornevall Electricity: the developed world takes it for granted but it is a luxury to many parts of the developing world. In developed countries, electricity is considered the backbone of the economy and it is generally agreed that providing access to electricity is a key element in the fight against poverty and an enabler of social and economic development.
Why is then that an estimated 1.6 billion people, a quarter of the world’s population, have no access to electricity? And in the absence of any new policies, it is estimated that by 2030, 1.4 billion people will still lack access! The reason for this situation is complex and involves energy policies, technological, economical, and institutional aspects.
Across the world, those with no access to modern energy are cooking on wood, dung and charcoal. The results of this, both physically and environmentally, are devastating. Providing power to the poor without destroying the planet has become one of the biggest challenges of modern times. ABB has, in collaboration with UN organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry partners and customers, taken on part of this challenge. Through its Access to Electricity initiative ABB is developing and implementing business models for the electrification and sustainable development of poor rural and semi-urban societies.
The first result of this project can be seen in the remote village of Ngarambe just outside the Selous game reserve in southern Tanzania. Inaugurated in June 2004, the effect that the power system already has on this small community is truly amazing.It is hard for many of us to imagine what life would be like without electricity. Yet, in this day and age almost one-quarter of the world’s population knows exactly what life is like without modern energy. The harsh reality is that regions and communities without electricity are often areas that experience
Anders H. Nordström, Christian Kornevall Electricity: the developed world takes it for granted but it is a luxury to many parts of the developing world. In developed countries, electricity is considered the backbone of the economy and it is generally agreed that providing access to electricity is a key element in the fight against poverty and an enabler of social and economic development.
Why is then that an estimated 1.6 billion people, a quarter of the world’s population, have no access to electricity? And in the absence of any new policies, it is estimated that by 2030, 1.4 billion people will still lack access! The reason for this situation is complex and involves energy policies, technological, economical, and institutional aspects.
Across the world, those with no access to modern energy are cooking on wood, dung and charcoal. The results of this, both physically and environmentally, are devastating. Providing power to the poor without destroying the planet has become one of the biggest challenges of modern times. ABB has, in collaboration with UN organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry partners and customers, taken on part of this challenge. Through its Access to Electricity initiative ABB is developing and implementing business models for the electrification and sustainable development of poor rural and semi-urban societies.
The first result of this project can be seen in the remote village of Ngarambe just outside the Selous game reserve in southern Tanzania. Inaugurated in June 2004, the effect that the power system already has on this small community is truly amazing.It is hard for many of us to imagine what life would be like without electricity. Yet, in this day and age almost one-quarter of the world’s population knows exactly what life is like without modern energy. The harsh reality is that regions and communities without electricity are often areas that experience