Details

Energy supplies in developing countries are facing difficult challenges. In many countries access to electricity is still a vital problem: In Sub-Saharan Africa the average rural electrification rate is below 10 %. In cities electricity supply is often unstable, inefficient and expensive. Importation of fossil fuels represents a heavy burden for the budgets of many developing countries. Moreover, energy policy in developing countries risks being perceived as isolated from the global fight against climate change.

It is therefore welcomed, that energy policy is set to become a major pillar in the new EU/AU Partnership. An intensified political dialogue can lead to new and more effective approaches and strategies. We need a renewed political commitment to enhance energy policy – to develop new ways of mobilizing and engaging private companies and to find new financial and technological solutions. For the renewable energy industry of Europe, developing countries can represent important markets of the future. How can this potential of renewable energy in developing countries be realized?

Against this background the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the Alliance for Rural Electrification kick off a new series of lunchtime discussions which are designed to boost the inter-institutional dialogue within EU development cooperation in the field of energy policy. We wish to exchange views, experiences and ideas among people who will shape the future of EU development policy.