With President Barack Obama’s administration launching a $7-billion “Power Africa” plan to support clean energy production in Kenya and Sub-Saharan African nations the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is set to expand its investments in sustainable energy projects across sub-Saharan Africa
Brandon Megorden , the Country Manager for East and Central Africa at the U.S Trade and Development Agency emphasized that the US will continue to support the governmental projects. This is clear as the 2016 American congress approved the five-year funding plan.
The USTDA is collaborating with Kenya on additional 6 new energy projects including Nyakwere Hills Solar Photovoltaic, Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant, Lamu Gas-to-Power Project and Isiolo Solar PV Power Plant. The 6 projects will add a total of 361 megawatts Kenya energy production.
Speaking at a luncheon organized by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), he said “USTDA funding is open to private, public and PPP types of beneficiaries. While there is no prescribed minimum or maximum, funding generally ranges between $500,000 and $1,000,000 and is on a 100% grant basis.”
Additionally, he said that support for six projects that will identify U.S. solutions that can help increase access to affordable, reliable electricity across Kenya and help diversify the country’s energy mix.These projects will enhancing ports and airports and improve generating new power, and USTAD will help projects reach implementation and financing .
USTDA supports important joint initiatives such as Power Africa, Trade Africa and other priority infrastructure efforts in Kenya. USTDA’s program helps to create infrastructure that is high quality and built to last, so that its partner countries can realize the full value of their investments.
USTDA supports key infrastructure development projects in Africa, and around the world, by helping those projects move from concept to implementation utilizing the expertise and resources of the U.S. private sector. For more than 30 years, USTDA has played an important role in building rail lines, power plants, airports and undersea fiber optic cables across Africa. Utilizing its customizable toolkit of project planning activities, technical assistance and reverse trade missions, the Agency will work with the Kenyan public and private sectors to ensure that Kenya’s Vision 2025 plan realizes its maximum impact and benefits all Kenyans.
 
Source: The Exchange

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