Nov 03, 2008 | Amsterdam Public-private partnership for solar power in Africa
"New, innovative partnerships are essential if we want to bring about modern Development Cooperation," Minister for Development Cooperation Bert Koenders said today at the signing of a public-private partnership with Nuon and FRES (Foundation Rural Energy Services). The concrete objective of this public-private partnership is to make a contribution towards the permanent provision of energy services to 100,000 customers (households and small businesses) in rural areas in developing countries in 2015.
The partnership stems from the Schokland Covenant which aims to bring the Millennium Development Goals closer. The signing ceremony took place during the FRES symposium 'Put Energy into Africa' in Amsterdam.
Throughout the world 1.6 billion people have no access to electricity. Most of them live in rural areas, most of which have no public electricity grid. Alternatives such as candles, paraffin and generators are expensive and polluting.
The new partnership for rural electrification will stimulate the development of small-scale energy companies in developing countries. By means of solar energy these small businesses will supply electricity for household and economic activities. Solar energy is actually the cheapest option in terms of an adequate power supply and FRES has gained experience of it in recent years. FRES can scale up its activities through the investment and support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nuon.
Minister Koenders attaches great importance to this partnership supplying energy to the poorest people. Furthermore, in that way the programme will also provide jobs and economic development in the long term. "This new supply of energy will also assist economic development in rural Africa because small-scale commercial businesses can be set up in rural areas," says Koenders. "Our contribution will lay a strong foundation on which energy companies can develop. In addition, modern energy services stimulate economic development by increasing productivity, giving access to markets and 'extending' the day."
As the founder of FRES, Nuon is closely involved in its activities and is keen to contribute to the growth of solar energy. "At the opening of the first solar power plant of FRES in Mali last month I saw the difference electricity can make in stimulating activity and development," Doede Vierstra, CFO of Nuon, added. "It is great that we can help to achieve this through the power of the sun."
About FRES
FRES was set up in 2004 as an independent public-benefit foundation to promote rural electrification in developing countries. FRES starts up and manages small-scale local energy companies that offer households and small businesses in rural areas in developing countries access to electricity. The FRES-companies ensure that people get energy in areas where no light would otherwise be available after sunset and give an economic stimulus to the district in which they operate.
About Nuon
Nuon is an ambitious energy company, serving more than three million consumers and organisations with over 10,000 employees in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Nuon produces, transports and delivers electricity, gas, heating and cooling, and engages in energy trading in the major international markets. Nuon also supplies additional services and technological innovations to businesses and consumers. In doing so, Nuon aims to provide a reliable, sustainable and affordable energy supply.
With a turnover of EUR 5.7 billion in 2007, Nuon occupies a prominent position in the Dutch energy market. The shares are held by local and regional authorities.
Effective 1 July 2008, Nuon was split into a network company and a production and supply company. The two companies now operate independently under a financial holding company and a joint Management Board.
More information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Marjolein de Rooij (spokesperson)
Telephone: +31 (0)6 11 86 33 11
Nuon Press Office
Telephone: +31 (0)20 597 42 00
FRES Foundation
Caroline Nijland (spokesperson)
Telephone: +31 (0)20 528 90 56 / +31 (0)6 55 38 75 05