By The New Times
The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) and Ampersand have been listed among Africa’s most promising climate and clean energy innovators lined up for the 2020 Ashden Awards.
RURA has been nominated for “bringing cleaner buses to the streets of Kigali”, while Ampersand is being credited with introducing “electric motorcycles designed and manufactured in Africa”.
While RURA is the national utility regulator, Ampersand is a private firm, whose mission, it says, is “building affordable electric vehicles and charging systems for the three million motorcycle taxi drivers in East Africa, starting with Rwanda.”
The list includes organisations that carry out outstanding work across Africa to electrify rural areas, boost sustainable urban transport and improve the lives of refugees and farmworkers, according to a statement.
Besides RURA and Ambersand, eight other 10 African organisations made the list which also features 34 other innovators from around the world.
Top eleven finalists will be announced in June and subsequently celebrated at the Ashden Awards Ceremony in London this July, the organisation said in the statement.
“Africa’s impressive culture of innovation and entrepreneurship is reflected in our long list. Africa is on the frontline of the climate crisis, with seven of the top ten climate change-affected countries in the continent, so it’s crucial we promote energy solutions created and proven locally,” Ashden CEO Harriet Lamb is quoted saying. Read more
