World Bank projects 140 million people in Africa could get access to clean light by 2015

Street LightAbout 140 million persons in Africa could access clean lighting by 2015, the World Bank said in a new report published in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC)-its private sector arm.

According to the joint report – Lighting Africa Market Trends Report 2012 – Overview of an the Off-Grid Lighting Market in Africa, published last week, Africa is set to become the world’s largest market for clean off-grid lamps.

The Lighting Africa Market Trends Report gathered input from a broad range of industry experts, manufacturers, distributors and civil society organizations

“The market for quality off-grid lighting products in Africa has seen a 300 percent growth in sales in the past three years,” said the report.

The report indicated that the market for quality off-grid lighting products has matured more rapidly than predicted three years ago.

It adds that cumulative sales could grow to 28 million solar lanterns in Africa by 2015, double the 2010 estimate.

In Africa 600 million people still rely on expensive, ineffective, and sometimes dangerous lighting sources, such as kerosene.

Programmes Manager at the World Bank-IFC Lighting Africa, Itotia Njagi, said it is on track to reach 250 million people without electricity by 2030.”

Lighting Africa says it is helping build a market to bring off-grid lighting across Africa by establishing quality standards, investing in consumer education, creating a favorable investment climate, and supporting innovative business models.

By Ekow Quandzie

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