In Conversation with... Dr. Youba Sokona

Dr. Sokona is a leader in energy, environment and sustainable development in Africa. Until recently, he oversaw the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), a pledged $10 billion initiative to unlock Africa’s renewable energy potential to deliver 300 GW by 2030. 

Listen to the full interview:

In this interview, Dr. Sokona discusses the need for decentralized renewable energy (DRE) to be brought to the attention of policy makers at different levels. During his recent visit to a West African country, leaders only expressed a desire to build coal plants, highlighting the “lack of understanding of energy in socio-economic development.” He called for “enduring effort” to educate policymakers, while also stressing the Importance “for utilities to revise their traditional way of dealing with electrification. The classical approach will no longer be valid.”