Uganda and the United Kingdom Ratified a Pact to Foster the Proliferation of Off-Grid Solar Investments

By Abdul Rahman Bangura–

Photo Credit: Renewables Now

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- The administration of Uganda and the UK has approved a convenient consensus that gears towards the country’s devotion to nurturing and broadening enterprises in off-grid solar alternatives for people as rejected to reliance on hydro and fossil fuel-based grid. It was accepted that, the grid electrification could not enhance admission to purify stability for Ugandans, primarily for susceptible organizations such as women, youth and others where more than 80% of the public survive on biomass power and other dirty sources.

The treaty was a commendation that, grid electricity and purpose of fossil energies were the largest impediments to enhancing healthy stability admission to boost the living precepts of people, especially for the helpless groups such as women.

Yet, it is crystal clear that, grid and fuel established electrification continues unaffordable, unreliable and accordingly, this thwarts endeavors to enhance actions in education, health, clean water, environmental conservation and others. Uganda, is enriched with sufficient energy resources; which are relatively distributed across the state with an equality of 5.1 kWh/m2 of solar energy, access to quality solar energy remains low with growth in the sector lessened by a number of challenges like poor coordination by government for off-grid connections.

Witnesses the existence of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, this should be a relief for us to reevaluate our economic growth path that has come at a heavy cost to the people and planet to bring about an essential transition for the clean energy transition. The strategy producers, should not relinquish scenery of the looming weather disaster, but fairly design economic incentive assortments with social inclusion and environmental sustainability built into every decision in particular sustainable energy development.

Undoubtedly, we are residing in completely unusual times, and the state encounters extraordinary energy challenges, that weaken the proficiency of government to react to this crisis and build economic soundness. Renewables can underpin these efforts and thus, can take advantage of an instrumental position in both the reaction and the healing.

According to International Renewable Energy Agency’s previously introduced Global Renewables Outlook report, renewables can provide with more than half of all power desires in Africa alone by 2030, promoting the regional economy by more than 4.4% and rising jobs by 50% in the system. For example, in the current Covid-19 policy report for Asia and the Pacific, it specified renewable energy as one of the main sectors to stimulate countries’ economies with people’s standards of living.

Therefore, government should deploy renewable energy. If clean energy is quickly and well-placed, it can finance timely crisis reaction; efforts including electrification of public health value chains, improving the education system, improve businesses opportunities, among others.

Current Outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease- Coronavirus advisory information, World Health Organization & United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.  Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. Source- WHO

who.int/emergencies

Coronavirus Q&A, World Health Organization

who.int/news-room

Coronavirus condition overview, World Health Organization

who.int/health-topics

United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov