Africa's energy infrastructure requires 'massive investment'
17 March 2011
Major spending is required in order to improve Africa's energy infrastructure, one expert has claimed.
Emmanuel Nzabanita, manager of the energy finance division for eastern and southern Africa at the African Development Bank (AfDB), was speaking at the Power Indaba when he said he wanted investment.
It has been widely reported that $93 billion (£58 billion) has to be spent on infrastructure annually for the next ten years.
Mr Nzabanita wants 40 per cent of that figure to go on electricity, he told South African paper the Times.
"The electricity production in Africa south of the Sahara - 48 countries - is 68 GW. This [is] no more than Spain's power production," Mr Nzabanita said.
With the majority of the Millennium Development Goals linked to secure power, this is an area that requires enhancements immediately.
The AfDB has also recently called for greater regional integration in southern Africa in order to encourage economic growth.