eni sees access to energy as a central issue as well as a real operational model.
The partnership involves initiatives to promote development and access to energy in the Countries where eni operates, in particular in Africa, in partnership with the SDSN. Moreover, eni is one of the founders of the “World Access to Modern Energy & Expo 2015”, an association born from the collaboration between eight large Italian and European energy companies and Expo 2015 SpA, with the common goal of promoting access to energy at the Expo 2015.
Participating in this initiative eni is also contributing with the skills and resources of the Eni Enrico Mattei Foundation.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected by the paradox of rich resources combined with high rates of energy poverty.
According to the International Energy Agency, the global electrification rate is almost 82%, but in Sub-Saharan Africa it is less than 32%. Urban and rural electrification rates also reflect this situation, with respective rates of 93.7% and 69.0% at the global level, whereas for Sub-Saharan Africa the rates are 55.2% and 18.3%.
This means that 598.7 million people living in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to energy, almost half of the global figure (1.2 billion).
This situation is set to worsen: estimates show that in 2030 energy poverty in Asia will be dramatically reduced whereas – at current rates of investment – it will increase in relative terms in the Sub-Saharan Region.
Adapted from the IEA World Energy Outlook 20131.
(1) Source: World Energy Outlook 2013 - Electricity Access Database.
