Sec. 104. Sense of Congress on priorities with respect the energy sector of sub-Saharan African countries
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/bill/113/s/2508/is/section-104·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— as the United States deepens its engagement with countries in sub-Saharan Africa pursuant to the authorities provided under this Act, priority should be given to countries with a demonstrated commitment to— transparency, accountability, and credibility in energy sector governance; prudent macroeconomic management of energy resources, including sound fiscal and debt management; energy sector reforms, including tariff reform, unbundling of vertically integrated utilities, and access for independent power producers; responsible development of newly discovered energy resources; expansion of power generation, transmission, and access, including distributed mini-grid and off-grid solutions; and private sector and investment climate reforms, such as strong rule of law and robust controls over the business regulatory environment; and the United States should consider, in prioritizing efforts carried out pursuant to this Act— opportunities for the United States private sector to contribute to the energy sector in sub-Saharan African countries through technology, innovation, and project development; the potential of such efforts to facilitate regional power trade and expand power access across borders; private sector interest and participation in the energy sector of sub-Saharan African countries; the long-term financial viability of energy sector projects in development; opportunities to collaborate with international donors and partners in energy sector development involving multilateral institutions such as the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank; the availability of United States Government resources and appropriate funds to support the expansion of technical assistance, delivery units, and transaction advisors and teams to implement United States Government programs to expand power access in sub-Saharan Africa; and mechanisms to promote efficient and effective coordination among United States Government departments and agencies, including allocation of well-defined roles for each such department or agency.