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    Can the telecom industry solve Africa's power problems?

    Africa is plagued by unreliable, intermittent and often non-existent access to electricity, especially in rural areas. This is a huge inconvenience and a big obstacle to economic development. Can mobile operators be the unlikely saviours, bringing power to the people in rural Africa, asks Peter Karaszi*?
    Can the telecom industry solve Africa's power problems?

    Lack of power, inhospitable terrain, electricity thefts, shoddy and neglected infrastructure, mismanaged power companies, dirty coal fired stations, expensive power and frequent power cuts at best... the list of Africa's power problems is long. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the overall electrification rate in Africa is less than 42%. In rural sub-Saharan Africa, it is a shocking 14%.

    To quote the IEA: "Energy alone is not sufficient for creating the conditions for economic growth, but it is certainly necessary. It is impossible to operate a factory, run a shop, grow crops or deliver goods to consumers without using some form of energy. Access to electricity is particularly crucial to human development as electricity is, in practice, indispensable for certain basic activities, such as lighting, refrigeration and the running of household appliances."

    Read the full article here

    Source: WeCanChangeOurWorld

    WeCanChangeOurWorld is an online social network in the sustainable social transformation space in South Africa. Our objectives will be to enable all brands, organisations and practitioners to congregate to create tangible intellectual assets, to share key learnings, ideas and best practice in this vibrant and essential sector for our country's growth and sustainability for all its people. WeCanChangeOurWorld aims to be a change agent for brands serious about sustainable transformation in South Africa. The portal is a platform for all companies and organisations involved in sustainable brand programmes and initiatives to connect with influencers and non-governmental/governmental organisations involved in sustainable social transformation in South Africa.

    Go to: http://www.wecanchange.co.za/AboutUs/tabid/66/Default.aspx
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