Friday, April 11, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 4,1429    

Experts exploring ways to expand access to energy in Asia

Islamabad—Dozens of energy experts from across Asia have assembled in Manila to help the Asian Development Bank (ADB) formulate a new strategic approach to increase access to modern forms of energy for the one billion people in Asia without electricity. Almost half of the world’s population does not have access to modern forms of energy. Many are still dependent on wood and other traditional biomass fuels for cooking and heating.

Increasing access to energy is essential for poverty reduction and ADB has played an important role in supporting its developing member countries (DMCs) to achieve this, said ADB press statement received here on Thursday. So far, ADB’s emphasis has mainly been on extension of electricity grids- an approach that often still leaves large numbers of people, especially in rural areas far from transmission lines, without access to power.

“ADB recognizes the need to develop a more strategic approach to share experiences of different sectors and regions and help our developing member countries scale up successful interventions to increase access to energy for the poor,” said ADB Vice-President Ursula Schaefer-Preuss. More than 60 representatives from governments, financial institutions, and civil society are attending a three-day workshop at ADB looking at how the organization can develop a new strategic approach to mainstream support for replicating and scaling up successful initiatives to increase access to modern energy services. The meeting is co-hosted by The Foundation for Development Cooperation and Global Village Energy Partnership International.

“Expanding access to modern energy services has been a key part of ADB’s efforts to reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific region,” Ms. Schaefer-Preuss told the delegates at the workshop, which is part of ADB’s Energy for All Initiative. The initiative, which is being financed by a $2.3 million grant from the Netherlands, will help ADB build on its expertise and respond to requests from its DMCs to implement energy access projects aimed at a more efficient use of energy for the rural and urban poor, the press release added.—APP