Five-hundred eighty-seven million people presently lack access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa, a number that is projected to increase to almost 700 million by 2030, according to a report released by the International Energy Agency.

Globally, the number of people without access to electricity is projected to decrease from 1.5 billion to 1.3 billion by 2030, making sub-Saharan Africa the lone exception to greater electricity access in the rest of the world.

Bouba Oualy, coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme's Regional Energy and Poverty Programme in West Africa, told MediaGlobal that the projected decrease in electricity access can be attributed to the fact that "the population in sub-Saharan Africa has almost doubled in the space of a generation," and "this rapid demographic growth exerts heavy pressure" on resource availability.

Oualy cites the need for increased women's involvement in the economy. "Since nearly half of West Africa's human assets are under-used, women's access to basic resources that would enable them to contribute to production and economic development is still restricted," he said.

Additionally, "the lack of macro-economic policies encouraging private companies," according to Oualy, has resulted in "held back profitability and discouraged investors."

Despite these obstacles, Oualy is convinced that the region is ripe for investment and has "potentialities" for a variety of energy access development initiatives.

Plans for two complimentary regional energy access initiatives are currently underway in West Africa.

One, the West African Power Tool System, is expected to connect a variety of national electricity grids from Nigeria to Cote d'Ivoire to Mali to better facilitate the sharing of regional energy supplies. The second, the West African Gas Pipeline Project, is planning to tap into thermal energy sources in Nigeria and distribute natural gas throughout the region.

There are other initiatives in place that promote more sustainable, clean energy policies. One example is the European Union-funded Regional Solar Programme, which utilizes the sun's energy to provide clean drinking water in the Sahel region.

Another clean energy project is the Multifunctional Platform (MFP). Touted as an innovative way to allow households to gain access to energy production, Oualy explained that it "consists of an energy source, provided by a diesel- or Jatropha oil [a type of vegetable oil]-powered engine mounted on a chassis, which powers a variety of end-use equipment such as grinding mills, de-huskers, battery chargers, and a welding post."

Mariana González Migueles, a Public Information Officer for UNDP, told MediaGlobal, "This indigenous tool touches on different aspects of development that UNDP is involved in--poverty reduction, energy efficiency, empowerment of women, and income generation."

Oualy explained that MFPs can help "rural women to fight poverty and ensure improved livelihoods" by providing an independent income-generating activity. This increased economic independence could empower women to enter the workforce and ensure that their children stay in school. The development of human capital could cultivate future leaders in the African energy industry.

Faced with the daunting statistics of population growth and growing lack of electricity access, there is room for expanding energy access in sub-Saharan Africa in sustainable ways. Oualy emphasized that "making lower carbon alternatives, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency, affordable should be pursued in African countries that are striving to increase assess to modern energy."