Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her policy is on the priority of ensuring the provision of reliable base-load electricity as part of the international development agenda.
DFID is committed to delivering the Global Goals, including Goal 7 on sustainable energy for all. Access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity is critical to economic growth, poverty reduction, investment and job creation. This will require base-load electricity to complement intermittent energy generation such as solar.
Our policy is to support a range of generation technologies and distribution approaches (grid, off-grid, mini-grid), including base-load electricity where we can clearly add value. This includes investing in electricity systems (including through CDC) and providing technical assistance for sector planning and power procurement.