Over 65 million people in Latin America do not have access to electricity. Energy Access aims to provide direct assistance to the poor by expanding rural and peri-urban energy access and targeting poverty reduction through multi-sectoral interventions that emphasize economic and socially productive uses. The World Bank is undertaking investment projects that promote electricity access in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru. Such projects promote infrastructure development, renewable energy resources, and capacity building programs to provide technical assistance. Programs also support expansion of private sector participation while simultaneously strengthening government capacity to regulate that participation. They often examine policy that currently inhibits effective delivery of electricity and ITC services, working to suggest modifications appropriate for the country’s energy needs. With Bank assistance, there are Community Development Carbon Fund (CDCF) projects under development in a dozen countries that aim to provide improved energy services and increased water, education, and health services at the local community level. The Bank also supports advisory activities to Governments on rural electrification in Bolivia and Peru. ACTIVE PROJECTS This project is establishing solar home systems in approximately 65,500 rural households, providing small, off-grid electricity generating units based on renewable energy systems to supply an additional 3,500 households, and providing about 1,100 renewable energy systems to provide electricity to public institutions. The project also includes the installation of pilot wind home systems in two communities and a capacity building program to provide technical assistance. The purpose of the program is to assist the government of Bolivia in expanding and improving the delivery of electricity and ITC services as a catalyst for the development of rural areas in Bolivia. It works to resolve any policy that is currently inhibiting effective delivery of electricity and ITC services to rural areas and also works to expand rural infrastructure coverage through solar energy technologies and cellular phone coverage. This project supports the Government’s effort to deepen reforms in telecommunications and electricity sectors. It is extending telecommunication and electricity services to rural areas, supporting more efficient regulation of services and the introduction of competition to lower costs and improve quality of services, and improving environmental management of resources. The Rural Infrastructure Project for Honduras aims to improve access, quality and sustainability of infrastructure services (roads, water and sanitation, and electricity) for the rural poor in Honduras and to develop the capacity and the environment to improve local services and planning. Nicaragua - Offgrid Rural Electrification (PERZA) The Nicaragua Off Grid Rural Electrification Project supports the sustainable provision of electricity services and associated social and economic benefits in selected rural sites in Nicaragua and strengthens the Government's institutional capacity to implement its national rural electrification strategy. The Rural Electrification project works to increase access to efficient and sustainable electricity services in rural areas of Peru. The project is providing electricity to about 800,000 people, using both conventional grid extension and renewable energy sources, providing technical assistance to promote renewable energy, new energy approaches, and private sector participation, developing a pilot program to promote productive uses, and building a small hydrogenation facility to help finance projects. |
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