Africa solar summit slated for October

With renewable energy steadily rising on the agenda on the African continent, Uganda is set to host the Africa solar summit in October.

John Petter Gaustad, the chairman of the European Business Forum and solar energy entrepreneur in Uganda is organizing the landmark event.

"We shall have an exhibition and a conference. We will be attracting about 200 exhibitors, and 50 of them will be from Uganda. We are expecting about 2000 visitors," he told the New Vision.

Recently, the Uganda solar energy association was formed, and Gaustad was voted on interim board.

Official figures indicate that only 24% of population in Sub-Saharan Africa has access to electricity, making Africa one of the "darkest" places anywhere on the earth.

"According to available data, Uganda's national grid electrification rate is 12% in urban and about 5% in rural areas. The majority of the people in rural areas strongly rely on lighting mechanisms like candles and kerosene lamps, which emit noxious fumes and present a hazard in terms of fires or burns, especially to children," says energyprogramme.or.ug

The summit will discuss solar solutions, financing & equipment suppliers for solar projects and offer participants education on new technologies.