The Role of the Oil & Gas Industry in Tackling Energy Poverty

Launching the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative in September 2011, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that “energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity, and an environment that allows the world to thrive.” Energy access is critical to social and economic development, but a shocking 1.3 billion people do not have access to electricity and a further 2.6 billion people do not have access to clean cooking facilities. Of these, 95% are located in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia, regions of the world which paradoxically also hold nearly 20% of global oil and gas reserves.