Zimbabwe's energy sector needs $13bn boost, says World Bank

1 September 2011

Zimbabwe needs $13 billion (£8.01 billion) to be invested into its energy infrastructure, according to a representative from the World Bank.

The group's country director Kundhavi Kadiresan told journalists in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, that in order to revive its power division, this sum of money - which is more than the nation's gross domestic product - is required.

She stated that developing the energy infrastructure of Zimbabwe will help its economy improve, which is something that needs urgent attention, as the World Bank spokeswoman said the country has external debts of $8.8 billion.

Ms Kadiresan commented that the money will be used to help rural areas access energy, adding: "Institutions like the World Bank and others are really keen to work with the government in terms of getting this country back on track."

This comes after Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan recently told the Board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of plans to improve the country's energy infrastructure and boost power supply by 2015. 

Category: Energy