Africa's 900 million people use less energy than Spain's 47 million. In sub-Saharan Africa, 621 million people have no electricity whatsoever. Each year, 600,000 Africans -- half of them children -- die from household air pollution, caused by fuelwood and charcoal used for cooking. Africa's lack of access to clean, affordable energy is a scandal. The poorest households in Africa are spending the equivalent US$10 per kilowatt-hour on lighting. The average cost of that same kilowatt-hour of electricity is US$0.12 in the United States and US$0.15 in the United Kingdom. For too long, governments in Africa have subsidised inefficient and often corrupt energy utilities, following the outdated,...
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