World Bank Group Provides Fund to Off-Grid Lighting in Africa

WASHINGTON, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank Group awarded millions of dollars to 16 organizations winning out in an "innovative lighting projects for off-grid Africa" competition, according to a news release published on the World Bank website Friday.

The winners, who got a maximum award of 200,000 U.S. dollars, are expected to use the sums to implement their projects in several African countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

The leading energy specialist of the World Bank Anil Cabraal said the competition, aimed at selecting affordable, clean and safe lighting for African regions with no access to an electricity power grid, surprised many with extraordinary innovation and creativity.

Cabraal said he is looking forward to seeing the winners implement their projects.

The competition took place during Lighting Africa 2008, the first global business conference for off-grid lighting in Africa, the release said.

Editor: Du Guodong

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