Saturday, September 18, 2021

NEW RESEARCH FINDS USD BILLIONS TO COAL POWER PROJECTS IN AFRICA, ASIA JEOPARDIZING ENERGY ACCESS, CLIMATE AGENDAS

Chinese state-owned institutions, world’s largest banks continue to finance coal power in countries with greatest needs for electricity access; USD 42 billion committed to grid-connected coal power plants between 2013-2019 in 18 countries studied 

VIENNA, Austria, Sept 17 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New research published today by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) highlights a troubling trend in the fight against climate change and push to deliver universal electricity access: despite environmental, economic and many other challenges facing coal, pockets of funders continue to finance additional coal-fired generation capacity in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Coal Power Finance in High-Impact Countries knowledge briefpart of SEforALL’s Energizing Finance research series, analyses 18 countries with the largest electricity access gaps (i.e. high-impact countries) to identify those receiving finance for coal-fired power, the sources of this investment, its key drivers and the risks attached.

“The idea of a coal phase-out does not hold true everywhere,” said Olivia Coldrey, Head of Energy Finance and Clean Cooking at SEforALL. “We continue to see significant investment in coal-fired power generation in countries with high rates of energy poverty. These countries need affordable, reliable and clean energy to support their socio-economic development and to mitigate climate change. Financing new coal projects is inconsistent with these objectives and holds back the energy transition.”

From 2013 to 2019, USD 42 billion was committed to grid-connected coal power plants in the 18 countries studied. Among them, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan received the majority of finance commitments to new coal plants, while in Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Niger and Tanzania all host active coal plant development. 

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