3rd International Solar Alliance launched at AfDB meeting

Union minister Piyush Goyal today launched the 3rd International Solar Alliance (ISA) programme on 'scaling up mini-grids and micro-grids' at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDB) here.
While launching the programme, the Union power minister urged African countries to join this international solar treaty to bring prosperity in their region.
"Poverty can not be eliminated without ensuring energy security. I urge all the African nations to come forward and be a part of this alliance. As the African continent is rich in solar energy, African countries must use this natural resource for poverty alleviation," said Goyal.

ISA was launched in November 2015 in Paris to create a platform for promotion of the solar energy across prospective ISA member countries. Solar Alliance was conceived in 2015 between India and France at the time when both the nations signed the Paris declaration on climate change.
Some of the key components proposed in the 3rd programme include spreading awareness about solar energy, enhancing local capacity for setting up mini, micro and nano grids, building skilled workforce and promote formulation of mini grid policies.
Goyal announced that his ministry is working towards ensuring electricity connection in each Indian home by 2019, way before the deadline of 2022 set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Our PM's vision is to connect every single home with electricity by 2022, the 75th anniversary of India's independence. But, my ministry is trying to achieve it by 2019, as we believe that a day without electricity is a day wasted from the life of the poor," he added.