Building a Shared Future: New measures to electrify Africa

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"Power shortages" are considered one of the factors hindering Africa's development. China and Africa are seeking cooperation on the power-generating sector, and now a global energy interconnection system has been proposed to electrify Africa. CGTN's Li Jianhua has more.

Flying over a village in Uganda. Hidden under the trees is a typical African village, one that suffers from power shortages.

BUKENYA JUMA, LOCAL COUNCIL NAMPANY VILLAGE, KAYUNGA DISTRICT "Electricity in Nampany is a problem. There is no electricity throughout the entire village. People are resorting to using solar power, which is insufficient, because there is no money to support the accessories."

A sight like this is common in most African countries. Figures show that over 600 million people are living without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. This is especially true in West Africa.

SIENGUI APOLLINAIRE SECRETARY GENERAL, WEST AFRICAN POWER POOL "In our region, 40 percent of the population has electricity, so 60 percent do not have. The reason is we are in lack of generation (of power). And the countries where we have potential for power generation, they don't have the money to leverage this generation and generate more."

Statistics show Africa's power-generation capacity will have to increase to 3,100 terawatt hours in 2040 to fuel its GDP growth, which means an investment of over 40 billion US dollars.

And now China is promoting the establishment of a Global Energy Interconnection system, whereby electricity can be transmitted effectively via high-voltage lines.

ENG. ABEL DIDIER TELLA DIRECTOR GENERAL, ASSOCIATION OF POWER UTILITIES OF AFRICA "Using a surplus in one region of the world to feed another region is a very good setting. So for me this initiative will go very quickly, because it's combining natural (resources) to solve very crucial problems."

LI JIANHUA BEIJING "Electricity is extremely scarce in countries like Uganda and Malawi. Most people there can't afford to cook with electricity alone. The idea of establishing a Global Energy Interconnection system is expected to ease the dire situation in most African countries. But how it goes remains to be seen. LJH, CGTN, BEIJING."