LILONGWE, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), a Beijing-based organization promoting sustainable energy development worldwide, has laid out its proposed energy interconnection pattern for Africa.
GEIDCO Director of Planning Division, Economic and Research Institute Song Fulong on Tuesday outlined the organization's proposals during the 57th Annual Meeting for the Association of Power Utilities of Africa underway in the Malawian capital of Lilongwe.
According to Song's presentation titled "Research and Outlook on African Energy Interconnection," GEIDCO plans to build three synchronous grids in Africa, and to achieve cross-regional interconnection through ultra-high-voltage lines.
GEIDCO's proposal also intends to realize Europe-Asia Cross-Continental Interconnection by building three power transmission channels across the Mediterranean to collect hydropower and solar energy from Africa and deliver it to Europe.
GEIDCO intends to develop an Africa-West Asia power interconnection channel to realize optimal allocation of clean energy on a large scale.
Africa has "more than sufficient" clean energy resources to meet the demand for energy and power development and that, based on the resource potential, as well as supply and demand locations, GEIDCO proposed to develop large-scale hydropower bases on the Congo River, the Nile River, as well as the Zambezi River, the organization said.
"To secure funds for the large-scale power projects development, GEIDCO also proposed the business model of the co-development of electricity, mining, metallurgy, manufacturing and trade," it said.
GEIDCO's Chief Cooperation Officer Cheng Zhiqiang told Xinhua that his organization is committed to promoting clean and sustainable development for Africa, among other regions.
"We support African Union's (AU) 2063 Agenda for the energy transition. We will promote the development of clean energies, and we have the strong capacity building, training and technology research capabilities," he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Long Zhou, in his speech, described Africa as a critical region for the development of the Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) proposed by China.
He also noted that the GEI has received "great recognition and positive support from African countries and the international community" as a major initiative toward advancing global energy transition and sustainable development.
Long described GEIDCO's proposed Africa Energy Interconnection as "a valuable tool for advancing electrification and industrial development in Africa." ■
