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UNDP helps ink quadrilateral new energy tech transfer

By Chen Boyuan: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, August 20, 2014

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Ms. Getrude Kasuba Mwape, Zambia's ambassador to China speaks about how the quadrilateral deal will help her country improve access to electricity on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 in Beijing. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

In Zambia, only 23 percent of the population has access to power. The figure is 48 percent for urban dwellers and only 3 to 4 percent for those living in rural areas, said Ms. Getrude Kasuba Mwape, Zambia's ambassador to China.

"Lack of human resources to manage renewable energy projects, lack of awareness and persuasion of clean energy are among the challenges Zambia faces despite the abundance of energy resources in the country," said Mwape.

She added that the joint effort facilitated by the UNDP will help Zambia raise the "3 to 4 percent" rate of rural access to electricity to above 50 percent by 2030.

Once it has proved successful, this partnership pattern will be promoted for other developing countries interested in cooperating with China to develop new energy, according to the UNDP.

Denmark, which is a world leader in clean energy, has always emphasized providing aid to Africa as much as it has focused on strengthening bilateral ties with China. Hence, providing funds in the quadrilateral deal seemed "obvious" for Denmark, particularly when viewed in light of Denmark's reputable renewable energy record, said Friis Arne Petersen, the Danish ambassador to China.

"Denmark's involvement as a long-term partner in development aid for Africa and Denmark's increasing bilateral cooperation with China in a broad sense make it natural for us to be a donor to engage in a project like this," Petersen added.

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